The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, has cautioned President John Dramani Mahama against what he describes as a possible repeat of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s handling of the Human Sexual and Family Values Bill (LGBTQ+ bill)
Speaking on PM Express on Tuesday, Bishop Gyamfi raised concerns over what he described as mixed signals from the presidency regarding the bill.
His comments follow recent indications from the government that the LGBTQ issue is not currently a priority, despite earlier assurances that President Mahama would assent to the bill if passed by Parliament.
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Drawing parallels with the previous administration, Bishop Gyamfi said Ghana had witnessed a similar situation under former President Akufo-Addo, who at various times suggested he would sign the bill but also made statements acknowledging the rights of LGBTQ persons.
According to him, those mixed signals ultimately resulted in the bill not being assented to.
“We have seen this before… Nana Akufo-Addo said openly he would sign this bill, yet there were contradictory statements at different times,” he noted.
He warned that the country must avoid a repeat of that outcome.
“We do not want a repetition of that. When the President says he will sign and later suggests it is not a priority, we must be careful,” he added.
Bishop Gyamfi also expressed concern about the potential influence of presidential remarks on Parliament’s handling of the bill, stressing that even without direct control, such statements carry weight.
“When the President speaks, it has an effect across all sectors, including Parliament,” he said, questioning whether the comments could slow down legislative progress.
Despite these concerns, he urged lawmakers to proceed with their work and ensure the LGBTQ Bill is transmitted to the President for assent.
“Parliament must go ahead with its work and place the bill on the President’s desk,” he stressed.
The Bishop clarified that the Church is not seeking to pressure the legislative process but remains hopeful the bill will be concluded within the lifespan of the current Parliament.
Myjoyonline