By Iddi Yire
Accra, Feb 28, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama on Friday reiterated the Government’s commitment towards the passage of the anti-LGBTQ Bill, dubbed “Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2022”.
“I, as a Christian, uphold the principle and the values that only two genders exist, man and woman, and that a marriage is between a man and a woman,” President Mahama stated in his remarks during a Fellowship with the Clergy in Accra.
He said, he had spoken with the Speaker of Parliament, so that a renewal of the expired “Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill”, should be a Bill that would be introduced by the Government rather than as a Private Member’s Motion.
The President expressed the hope that consultation would see a renewed Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill.
The object of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill is to provide for proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian Family Values proscribe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) and related activities.
President Mahama, who expressed gratitude to God for the landslide victory in the December 7, 2024, general election, said, he would soon initiate consultations through the Minister of Local Government and Religious Affairs to set up a planning committee for the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving.
The President believed that the nation’s leadership must reflect the aspirations of the people that they govern, and on this he stands firm.
He said on Thursday, February 27, he had the honour of addressing the nation in his first State of the Nation address before Parliament, and that as he promised during the campaign, he was as truthful as possible to the people of Ghana about what the state of the economy and the nation was.
“It was necessary for me to lay bare the extent to which our economy has been mismanaged, but let me be clear, my purpose is not to dwell on the past failures, and as I said to Parliament, I was not there to lament about the dire situation that I have inherited.
“Yes, the challenges are enormous and daunting. The state of our economy is deeply concerning, but by the grace of God and with his guidance and his help, and the help of my team, I assure you we’ll fix it.”
He said their immediate priority was to stabilize the economy and restore confidence in Ghana, stabilize the nation’s currency, bring down interest rates, reduce inflation, reduce the deficit, and improve the primary balance.
He said the Government had already begun implementing strategic measures to boost investor confidence, to cut down on wasteful government expenditure, and strengthen their finances.
He said beyond economic stabilization, they were also focusing on what truly matters, and that was creating jobs to empower their young people.
“Our 24-hour economy policy is not just a slogan, it is a bold and transformative initiative that we believe will open up employment opportunities across multiple sectors, particularly in business development, agriculture, agribusiness, manufacturing, and digital technology,” he stated.
“A nation that cannot feed itself cannot prosper, and that is why we are making aggressive interventions, especially in the agricultural sector.”
President Mahama said the Government’s goal was to make Ghana self-sufficient in food production and become a major exporter of agricultural products.
He said by modernizing farming techniques, investing in agro-processing, and supporting the nation’s farmers, they would lay a solid foundation for a prosperous future for the country.
He appealed to the Clergy for their continued prayers and moral support for the Government.
“As Christian leaders, you are the spiritual backbone of our country. Your guidance, your counsel, and intercession will be instrumental in ensuring that we stay on the right path,” he said.
He said the Church had always played a crucial role in shaping society, and that he was urging the Clergy to continue being the voice of righteousness, unity, and progress.
Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, the General Overseer of the Action Chapel International Ministry in his homily, advised the ministers and other appointees of President Mahama to emulate his humility and integrity.
He urged them to remember how God had taken from their low estates and planted where they were today.
GNA