The Christian Council of Ghana has publicly defended President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to subject the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, widely known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, to further review before taking any final action.
During his recent visit to the United Kingdom, President Mahama indicated that the contentious bill would undergo additional scrutiny to ensure full compliance with constitutional requirements before any decision to assent to it. This measured approach has sparked debate among Ghanaians, with opinions divided over the appropriate next steps for the legislation.
Speaking to the media, Rev. Jehodia Godwin Amuzu, Coordinator for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations at the Christian Council, described the president’s stance as both prudent and constitutionally sound. He emphasized that President Mahama has every right to consult legal and constitutional advisers to guarantee the bill’s legal robustness. “The president has to give the bill to his advisors for them to go through to be sure that the bill satisfies every constitutional requirement. Otherwise, anybody who goes to court can cause the bill to be struck out,” Rev. Amuzu explained.
He urged patience, underscoring that such scrutiny is part and parcel of democratic governance. “Nobody can just give a fiat when the law does not permit that. So, let’s give the president the benefit of the doubt,” he added.
Rev. Amuzu also reminded the public that President Mahama had previously assured religious leaders of his intention to assent to the bill if it is found to be constitutionally sound and presented to him. “In one of our encounters with him, he indicated that when the bill is brought to him, he will assent to it,” Rev. Amuzu recalled, noting that the bill’s non-state-sponsored nature calls for extra diligence to ensure it is “fit for purpose.”
Welcoming recent calls by Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin for lawmakers to reconsider the bill, Rev. Amuzu described such parliamentary engagements as a hallmark of healthy democracy. “We are not in an authoritarian regime. So, once we embrace democracy, we have to embrace other techniques of democracy,” he said, stressing the importance of checks and balances and active citizenship.
These remarks come against the backdrop of renewed debate over the future of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill and the dynamic roles of both the executive and Parliament in shaping its destiny.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com