President John Mahama has called for a tone of restraint and constructive discussion in the national dialogue on LGBTQ+ issues, noting that while the subject is important, it is not now Ghana’s central priority. Speaking in a presidential dialogue with civil society organisations in Jubilee House, Accra on Monday, March 30, President Mahama called the matter extremely emotive and sensitive even in countries with long-established liberal traditions. He emphasized the need for “cool and measured discussion, not emotional content”, based on the country’s “core values”. “We are still dealing with the basic means of getting people up and running with respect to the provision of education, health care, work, food, clothing and shelter,” he said, emphasizing the government’s main focus continues to lie with the serious socio-economic needs of its citizens.
President Mahama said the debate over the private member’s bill is an argument that expresses the diversity of opinion in Ghanaian society. He noted that any such decision should be within the meaning of a constitutional requirement as well as respect for the rights of human beings and the unification of the nation. “And while we have strong and differing views in our society, we feel that the issues need to be addressed through democratic processes, our core values, our dialogue and the rule of law,” he said.
The President responded to international reactions, particularly to developments of foreign institutions, and called on both sides to respect one another and stay engaged. Ghana, as he puts it, will keep walking the line between the tenets of our constitution, the realities of our cultural life and the development of productive global relations.
Editor:
Obiri-Yeboah
