President Mahama Calls for Broader Consultations on LGBTQ+ Policies

In a recent interview with Bloomberg’s Next Africa, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama called for broader consultations on social policies, particularly the ongoing debates surrounding LGBTQ+ rights in the country.

Mahama emphasized the importance of creating inclusive discussions about Ghana’s cultural values, stressing that policy decisions should reflect the perspectives of all stakeholders, including religious leaders, traditional authorities, civil society groups, and the public at large.

“What we need is more stakeholder consultation to look at whatever new bill will come and make sure that we carry everybody on board,” Prez Mahama stated, expressing his belief that policy decisions should not be made in isolation but rather through open, collective dialogue.

His remarks come at a time when Ghana has been embroiled in heated debates over proposed LGBTQ+ legislation.

International financial institutions, such as the World Bank and the IMF, have reportedly tied their funding decisions to Ghana’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights, further complicating the issue.

However, Prez Mahama made it clear that while Ghana is open to international cooperation, it should not allow external pressures to dictate its social policies.

“Multilateral institutions should avoid getting into cultural matters,” he said. “This is a diverse world. We have different cultures.”

Mahama’s call for greater stakeholder engagement also underscores his leadership style, which prioritizes inclusive governance.

Rather than relying solely on laws to uphold family values, Mahama suggested that Ghana should place a greater emphasis on community-driven efforts, particularly focusing on education and socialization.

“Proper family values are something we all are interested in. But it’s not only in the bills that we send to parliament to regulate them, it’s also about teaching our children those family values as they grow,” Mahama explained, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to fostering social values.