President John Dramani Mahama has proposed a new approach to the controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill, suggesting that it should be introduced as a government-sponsored bill rather than a private member’s bill.
Speaking with the Catholic Bishops Conference in Accra on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, Mahama argued that government sponsorship would lend the bill greater legitimacy and improve its chances of success.
Thus, emphasised that presenting it as a government initiative would demonstrate stronger institutional backing and a unified stance on the issue.
“I’m not sure what the bill’s proponents intend to do, but I believe we should revisit the conversation. If we decide to move forward, it should be with consensus. The bill shouldn’t be a private member’s bill; it should be a government bill, supported by the government after consultations with all relevant stakeholders,” he said.
Further, the president also stressed the need to instill national values in schools, suggesting that teaching these values to children could eliminate the need for such legislation.
“If we taught our values in schools, we wouldn’t need to pass a bill to enforce family values. More than any bill, the priority should be agreeing on a curriculum that incorporates these values into our children’s education,” he added.
The anti-LGBTQ+ bill continues to spark significant debate both within Ghana and internationally.
