The Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has given the condition upon which he will sign the anti-lGBTQI bill if he becomes president.
He says whether or not he will sign the bill will depend on what is contained in it.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Africa on Wednesday, December 4, Mr Mahama said “It is not an anti-lGBTQI Bill, it is a Family Values Bill, it was approved unanimously by our parliament. [LGBTQI] is against our African culture, it is against our religious faith but I think we must look at the Bill and the president must indicate what he finds wrong with that bill and send it back to Parliament or alternatively he must send it to the Council of state and get the Council of State’s advise.”
Asked whether that is what he would have done if he were to be the president when the Bill was passed by Parliament, he answered ” That is what I would have done.”
On the specific question as to whether he would sign the bill or not if he is elected as president, he said “It depends on what is in the Bill”
There are currently two lawsuits before the Supreme Court challenging the passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed by Parliament.
Richard Dela Sky is challenging the constitutionality of Parliament’s passage of the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.”
He argues that the bill violates several provisions of the 1992 Constitution, including Article 33(5) and Articles 12(1) and (2), 15(1), 17(1) and (2), 18(2), and 21(1)(a)(b)(d) and (e).
Sky is seeking eight reliefs, including an order declaring that the Speaker of Parliament contravened Article 108(a)(ii) of the Constitution by allowing Parliament to pass the bill, which imposes a charge on the Consolidated Fund or other public funds of Ghana.
Dr. Amanda Odoi has raised concerns about specific provisions within the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
She is seeking a restraining order to prevent the Speaker, the Attorney-General, and the Clerk of Parliament from sending the bill to President Akufo-Addo for approval.
