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The Majority in Parliament has firmly rejected calls for President John Dramani Mahama to apologise over delays in fulfilling his pledge to facilitate the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, widely referred to as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
The issue has sparked renewed political debate in recent weeks, with some groups and members of the Minority demanding that the President account for what they describe as a lack of urgency in advancing the legislation.
However, the Majority insists that such concerns are premature and fail to consider the constitutional timeline within which the President is expected to operate. They argue that President Mahama still has ample time within his four-year mandate to act on the proposed bill and other policy commitments.
According to the Majority, governance requires prioritisation and careful legislative planning, noting that not all promises can be implemented at the same time.
Speaking in an interview with Citi News, Richard Kwami Sefe described the calls for an apology as unjustified and politically motivated.
“The issue of this LGBTQ+ bill is now at the back burner. That does not mean it is not going to be put before Parliament. And remember, the current government has a four-year mandate rule. And the Minority cannot force the president to go by their whims and caprices.
“So for them to say that the president should apologise to religious leaders, I don’t think it is fair for them to be calling for that.
“The president is focused, he knows what he is doing, he wants to take charge and take over the bill and make sure that he presents a formidable bill to be laid before Parliament, debated, and eventually become an Act of Parliament.”
The bill, formally known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, was reintroduced in Parliament earlier this year after the previous version lapsed with the dissolution of the last Parliament.
President Mahama recently stated that while the issue remains sensitive, his administration is currently prioritising pressing socio-economic needs such as education, healthcare, jobs, food, and shelter.
