President Mahama announced that the government is consulting with the Speaker of Parliament to introduce the anti-LGBT bill as a government-sponsored initiative rather than as a private member’s bill. He made this statement during his Fellowship with the Clergy at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on Friday, February 28, 2025.
President Mahama re-affirmed his Christian values, stating that only two genders exist – a man and a woman. “I, as a Christian, uphold the values that only two genders exist as man and woman and that the marriage is between a man and woman. I have spoken with the Speaker so that a renewal of the expired Proper Family Values Bill should be a bill that is introduced by the government rather than as a private member motion.
“It is my hope that that consultation will see a renewed proper Family Values Bill. I believe that my leadership should be a reflection of the people that I govern and upon this I stand firm,” the President said. The Anti-LGBTQI bill, now expired, was introduced as a Private Members bill in Parliament. It successfully went through all reading stages and was approved by Parliament, awaiting a Presidential assent by the ex-President Akufo-Addo. However, the ex-president did not assent to the bill until he left office, citing a number of suits filed at the Supreme Court against the bill.
The bill in its current form has expired and will need a re-introduction to Parliament for further action to be taken. President Mahama earlier in January, President Mahama suggested a possible new approach to the controversial LGBTQ+ bill, saying it should be a government-sponsored bill rather than a private member’s bill.
At a meeting with the Catholic Bishops Conference, President Mahama noted that “I do think that we should have a conversation on it again so that all of us if we decide to move that bill forward, we will move it forward with a consensus and probably should not be a private members bill but a government bill with government behind it after consultation with all stakeholders.”
” has been one of the most contentious issues in Ghanaian politics. It seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities and advocacy in the country.
By: Raphael Ghartey
