President John Dramani Mahama has assured the Christian Council of Ghana that he will assent to the anti-LGBTQ bill if Parliament debates, approves, and forwards it to his office.
Addressing the Council during their meeting on Tuesday at the Jubilee House, the President stressed that the government’s position on the matter is firm and aligned with the values expressed by the clergy.
“There is no questions or equivocations about what we believe in,” he said, noting that the Executive shares the Council’s concerns about the moral direction of the country.
President Mahama explained that the government supports the reopening of parliamentary consideration of the legislation, following recent discussions about procedural issues relating to its passage.
“I believe that we are completely aligned with the Christian Council in terms of your belief and so we agree with the Speaker to relay the bill and let Parliament debate it,” he told the delegation.
He added that any further corrections, improvements or clarifications should be taken up through the normal legislative process.
“If there are any amendments and whatever has to be done,” he said, Parliament should be allowed to handle them transparently.
The president stressed that the will of the Ghanaian people, as expressed through their elected representatives, would guide his final action.
“If the Parliament of the people of Ghana endorse the bill and vote on it and it comes to me as President, I will sign the bill,” he stated, reaffirming the Executive’s readiness to act once legislative procedures are fully completed.
During the meeting, the Christian Council also urged the president to consider reviving the National Cathedral project, which has been abandoned by his administration.
In their engagement with the president, the Council presented three key recommendations.
First, they called onthe government to publicly reaffirm its commitment to the project and ensure its eventual completion.
According to Rev. Thompson, Vice-Chair of the Council, such reassurance would help restore public confidence and provide clarity on the state’s position.
“We humbly recommend that the government reaffirms its commitment to the project, to its continuation and completion, ensuring transparency in financial administration,” he stated.
Second, the Council urged the development of a diversified funding model that does not disproportionately strain the national budget.
This approach, Rev. Thompson explained, should include contributions from churches, the private sector and international partners.
“A broad-based funding structure will reduce fiscal pressure on the state and mobilize wider ownership,” he added.
