President John Dramani Mahama has clarified his government’s position on the Family Values Bill, assuring the Christian Council of Ghana that the administration remains committed to traditional family principles and will support the bill when it returns to Parliament.
He made the remarks during a courtesy call by the leadership of the Council at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, 18 November.
Addressing concerns about the bill’s status, President Mahama explained that it could not be assented to during the previous administration because of a legal challenge that halted its submission.
“There was a legal tussle and somebody filed an injunction against Parliament to injunct the Speaker from forwarding the bill to the President for assent,” he said. “And so the situation is that the bill was never submitted to the President for assent.”
He noted that, under the Constitution, any bill not assented to before the end of a parliamentary term automatically lapses and must be reintroduced.
“By the Constitution, any bill that is not assented to by the President before the expiration of the life of Parliament expires. And so it means that the bill has to be relaid in the House,” he said, adding that the Speaker has already signalled readiness to make room for its reintroduction.
Setting out his administration’s stance, President Mahama stressed that the government holds firmly to traditional values.
“If you want the position of my government, marriage is between man and woman. A person’s gender is determined at birth,” he said. “The family is a foundation of our nation… there are no questions or equivocations about what we believe.”
He added that the government’s position aligns with the beliefs of the Christian Council, saying: “I believe that we are completely aligned with the Christian Council in terms of your belief.”
The President welcomed the Speaker’s decision to re-lay the bill and encouraged Parliament to debate it fully, including considering any necessary amendments.
“If the Parliament of the people of Ghana endorse the bill and vote on it and pass it and it comes to me as President, I will sign it,” he assured.
