Voices Of Sincerity Or Betrayal? The Family Values Bill And Presidential Accountability

Franklin Alale Azambasi, a concerned citizen and a law student of UDS

A concerned citizen and a law student of the University of development studies, says it is striking how some Ghanaian presidents in recent times find their “voice of sincerity” — or perhaps a “voice of betrayal” — when speaking about the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill abroad. He made this call after Parliament passed the bill on Friday.

Recently, then-President Akufo-Addo told Al Jazeera that LGBTQ+ issues were “bound to happen.” He returned home and told Ghanaians a different story. When it was time to act, he disappointed many by refusing to assent to the bill.

President John Mahama stood with Ghanaians while in opposition. Yet after assuming office, he told CSOs that the LGBTQ+ bill was not a pressing issue. He knew the backlash his predecessor faced for withholding assent. He also knew the Afrobarometer survey by CDD-Ghana showed 93% of Ghanaians do not support LGBTQ+.

Then at Chatham House in London, President Mahama was asked a simple question: “Would you sign the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill passed by Parliament?” His answer was disappointing. Instead of yes or no, we got a lecture on assent procedures, quorum, and private member’s motions. Ultimately, he said the bill was “far from being passed into law.”

Mr. President, were those technical details necessary? It appears the goal was to insulate your government, not to state the position of your people. What is our crime as Ghanaians? Why can’t you put the interest of your people above foreign pressure?

Mr. President, your response was politically reckless, needless, and avoidable. The headlines it generated could have been avoided. Above all, it disappointed the overwhelming majority of Ghanaians who believe you will defend our family values. It felt like a betrayal of our trust.

The remedy is simple: assent to the bill.