The Majority in Parliament has firmly rejected calls for President John 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 generated renewed political debate in recent weeks, with some groups and members of the Minority urging the President to 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 take into account the constitutional timeline within which the President is expected to operate.
According to the Majority, the President, John Dramani Mahama, still has sufficient time within his four-year mandate to deliver on his commitments, including any action relating to the proposed bill.
They argue that governance involves prioritisation and careful legislative planning, and that not all promises can be executed simultaneously.
Speaking in an interview with Citi News, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Chieftaincy, Culture and Religious Affairs Committee, Richard Kwami Sefe, described the calls for an apology as unjustified and politically motivated.
“The issue of this LBGTQ+ 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 presented a formidable bill to be laid and Parliament will debate it and it becomes an act of Parliament.”
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
