President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his stance on LGBTQ+ issues, stating his belief that only two genders, male and female exist.
Speaking during a worship service with the Christian community in Accra, he emphasized his commitment to Ghana’s cultural and moral values, particularly regarding family and sexuality.
The President disclosed that he is working closely with the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, to reintroduce the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill as a government-sponsored bill rather than a private member’s motion.
The previous bill, which sought to criminalize LGBTQ+ activities and advocacy, expired with the dissolution of the last Parliament.
“I, as a Christian, uphold the principle and the values that only two genders exist man and woman. And that marriage is between a man and a woman,” Mahama stated. “I’ve spoken with the Speaker so that a renewal of the expired Proper Families Values Bill should be a bill that is introduced by government rather than as a private member’s motion. And it’s my hope that that consultation would see a renewed Proper Families Values Bill.”
The debate over LGBTQ+ rights in Ghana has been a highly sensitive and polarizing issue for years. While the country’s constitution guarantees fundamental human rights, same-sex relationships remain criminalized under Ghana’s laws, with Section 104 of the Criminal Offenses Act prohibiting “unnatural carnal knowledge.”
However, in recent years, LGBTQ+ activists and advocacy groups have pushed for greater recognition and protection, sparking intense backlash from religious, cultural, and political leaders.
In 2021, a group of MPs introduced the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill to further restrict LGBTQ+ activities, including advocacy and public expression of queer identities. The bill proposed severe penalties for individuals and organizations supporting LGBTQ+ rights, including imprisonment.
While widely supported by religious and traditional groups, the bill faced strong opposition from human rights organizations, international bodies, and diplomatic missions, arguing that it violated fundamental freedoms and could lead to human rights abuses.
The bill ultimately stalled in Parliament before its expiration, leaving the issue unresolved. Mahama’s latest announcement signals his administration’s renewed effort to push the legislation forward, this time as a government-backed initiative.
