Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has given firm assurances that President John Dramani Mahama is fully prepared to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill once Parliament completes its work and presents it to him.
Speaking in an interview Dafeamekpor said the President has no hesitation about signing the controversial bill, stressing that President Mahama is ready to grant immediate assent the moment it reaches his desk.
According to the Majority Chief Whip, the President’s commitment is unequivocal.
“I am saying the person who will sign says, ‘My pen is ready. The ink is dripping.’ If you bring it today, I’ll sign it in the next minute,” he stated.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill has sparked intense national and international debate. It seeks to regulate matters relating to sexual orientation, gender identity, family values, and related advocacy activities in Ghana.
Supporters of the bill—including religious bodies, traditional leaders, and conservative civil society groups—argue that it is necessary to safeguard Ghana’s cultural values, moral foundations, and the traditional family system.
However, critics, including human rights organisations, legal experts, and sections of the international community, warn that aspects of the bill could infringe on fundamental human rights guaranteed under Ghana’s Constitution and international conventions to which the country is a signatory.
Reaffirming the ruling majority’s stance, Mr. Dafeamekpor insisted that Parliament remains determined to pass the bill in line with what it considers the will of the Ghanaian people.
“We want to assure the nation and all faith-based institutions and religious bodies that this bill will be passed. As we have indicated before, even before the process begins, the President is ready to sign,” he said.
