President John Dramani Mahama has once again delayed his decision to sign the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, despite promising to do so during his time in opposition.
Instead of following through with his earlier commitment and simply signing the bill, Mahama is now making excuses for his inaction, raising questions about his sincerity and political will to fulfill his promises.
During a recent interview, Mahama announced that his government plans to reintroduce the bill as a government-sponsored initiative.
He stressed that the bill, which was initially proposed by private members of Parliament, should be reworked and presented under his administration with the backing of the government, after consultation with stakeholders.
“There’s a need for us to revisit this issue as a nation. If we decide to move the bill forward, it should be with a collective consensus,” he stated, adding that a government-backed bill, rather than a private member’s initiative, might be more effective after stakeholder consultations.
The statement is a stark contrast to Mahama’s previous position when he was in opposition, where he had been vocal in his support for the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill and pledged to sign it into law if elected.
This delay has raised concerns among his supporters, who feel betrayed by his reluctance to act swiftly on an issue he had championed.
“We need to have a conversation on it again, and we need to move forward with a consensus. It should probably not be a private member’s bill.
It should be a government bill,” Mahama said in the interview, further elaborating on his plans to reintroduce the bill with the full support of his government.
He emphasized that the bill would only be reintroduced after extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, making it clear that this was not an issue to be rushed into legislation.
However, Mahama’s refusal to act on the bill is causing frustration among his detractors, who argue that his promises are now nothing more than empty words.
They point to his previous assurances, during his presidential campaign, that he would sign the bill if elected, and now feel he is using excuses to avoid taking action.
Mahama had stated in a recent interview, trying to clarify the government’s position on various issues, but his explanations for not signing the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill remain less than satisfactory.
Meanwhile, Bernard Ahiafor, a member of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, has assured the public that the bill will be reintroduced in the 9th Parliament.
While he could not confirm if the bill would be government-sponsored or a Private Members’ Bill, he expressed optimism about its passage under President Mahama’s administration.
The Supreme Court had previously dismissed a case brought by two petitioners, Amanda Odoi and Enrich at Sky, who sought to block the bill from reaching the president’s desk for assent. The case was dismissed on procedural grounds, with the court ruling that the petitioners had not presented a compelling enough case to prevent the bill from being discussed in Parliament.
The court’s decision effectively cleared any legal barriers to the reintroduction of the bill in the 9th Parliament, signaling that the issue of LGBTQ+ rights will continue to be a significant political topic in Ghana.
This dismissal was seen as a victory for supporters of the bill, who viewed it as a crucial step in protecting Ghana’s traditional values against what they consider the threat posed by LGBTQ+ rights movements.
Conversely, human rights organizations condemned the ruling, calling it a setback for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals in the country.
Despite the legal clearance, the debate surrounding the bill remains highly contentious, with both sides calling for more robust discussions on the matter.
🇬🇭 LGBTQ+ Bill Should Be Government-Sponsored – Mahama: President John Mahama has proposed reintroducing the LGBTQ+ bill as a government-sponsored initiative for broader legitimacy and higher chances of success. He hinted at renewed discussions if the bill is reintroduced.… pic.twitter.com/Ox0PK8eoqI
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) January 14, 2025
