The Christian Council of Ghana has defended President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to subject the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, to further review before taking any final action.
During a recent visit to the United Kingdom, President Mahama had indicated that the bill would undergo additional scrutiny to ensure it meets all constitutional requirements before a decision is made to assent to it.
Reacting to the President’s remarks in an interview with Citi News, the Coordinator for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations at the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Jehodia Godwin Amuzu, described the approach as appropriate and consistent with the President’s constitutional responsibilities.
According to him, the President has the right to consult legal and constitutional advisers to ensure the legislation can withstand judicial scrutiny.
“Now, the state being represented by the president, he also 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.Explainer articles subscription
“So, I think we should be patient. That is the course of democracy. 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 said.
Rev. Amuzu further recalled that President Mahama had previously indicated to religious leaders that he would assent to the bill if it was presented to him.
“After all, in one of our encounters with him, he indicated that when the bill is brought to him, he will assent to it. What it means is that from the narrative, the impression we are getting at the Christian Council is that because it’s not a state-sponsored bill, they will scrutinise it to be sure that the bill is fit for purpose,” he explained.
Rev. Amuzu also welcomed recent calls by the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin for lawmakers to reconsider the bill, describing such engagements as a healthy feature of democratic governance.
“I think it’s healthy for democracy. We are not in an authoritarian regime. So, once we embrace democracy, we have to embrace other techniques of democracy. I think it’s good for democracy that we all act as citizens of our dear country and take keen interest in whatever goes on within the government’s space. But to extend that, parliament, even though they are masters of their own rules, once there are checks and balances, once citizens are actively involved, whatever goes on in parliament, we can check on them. So, we have a vibrant position.”
The comments come amid renewed public debate over the future of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill and the role of the executive and Parliament in determining its fate.