President John Dramani Mahama has stressed that Ghana’s policies are shaped by its legal framework, cultural values, and national consensus, therefore, international partners must respect Ghana’s sovereignty and democratic processes.

According to President Mahama, the passage of the bill will be driven by the Ghanaian people, not imposed by his government.

“What the eventual nature of the bill would be, nobody can second-guess Parliament, and I, as President, cannot anticipate Parliament in respect of that bill. But I believe that our democracy will work out. Memoranda are being accepted from people from all walks of life.

“Civil Society Organisations are presenting their papers to Parliament and I believe that the representatives of the people will make the will of Ghanaians reflect in whatever eventually comes out.

“That level of tolerance in the political atmosphere is what has given Ghana the advantage it has. We have a relatively independent judiciary that we have confidence will adjudicate matters fairly,” he added.

President Mahama made the statement after receiving the ‘International Statesperson Award’ from the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia.

His comment was a reaction to a recent decision taken by the Lincoln University in the United States (U.S.) against him.

Management of Lincoln University in the United States (U.S.) on Tuesday, March 24, took a u-turn over its decision to confer an honorary doctorate (honoris causa) on President John Dramani Mahama.

According to the University, revocation follows calls from one group alleging President Mahama’s view on Ghana’s Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-gay Bill.

However, Ghana’s Embassy in the United States expressed profound disappointment following the development.

The embassy in n a statement released on Tuesday, March 24, noted “It is both surprising and regrettable that such concerns have surfaced at this late stage, particularly with the President already in the United States in anticipation of the visit”.

President Mahama was expected to have paid a visit the Lincoln University on Wednesday, March 25. President Mahama on several occasions has pledged to sign into law the anti-gay Bill.

Having expired with the conclusion of the previous 8th Parliament’s session, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has directed the Business Committee to schedule the reintroduced bill for parliamentary deliberation.

The bill, which aims to outlaw LGBTQ+ activities and criminalise their promotion, advocacy, and funding, was previously passed by the 8th Parliament.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has confidently stated that he will sign anti-LGBTQ bill once it is successfully approved by parliament.

During a courtesy visit by the Christian Council of Ghana on Tuesday, November 18, at Jubilee House, the president mentioned all the factors that must come to play for him to assent to the bill.

“I believe that we have no questions or equivocations about what we believe. I believe that we are completely aligned with the Christian Council in terms of your belief. We agree with the Speaker to relay the bill and let Parliament debate it."

"And if there are any amendments or adjustments that need to be made, if the people’s representatives in Parliament endorse the bill, vote on it, and pass it, and it comes to me as president, I will sign it,” President Mahama said.

Before his return to office, President Mahama had already expressed a cautious approach toward the bill, emphasizing the need for a constitutional review.

Speaking with BBC Africa on December 4, he elaborated: “It is not an anti-LGBTQI Bill; it is a Family Values Bill. It was approved unanimously by our Parliament. [LGBTQI] is against our African culture, it is against our religious faith, but I think we must look at the Bill, and the president must indicate what he finds wrong with that bill and send it back to Parliament or alternatively he must send it to the Council of State and get the Council of State’s advice.”

When asked if he would sign the bill into law if elected, Mahama responded cautiously, stating, “It depends on what is in the Bill.” He emphasized that any decision would be based on a thorough examination of the bill’s content and legal compliance. “That is what I would have done,” he affirmed.

While proponents argue the bill is necessary to safeguard Ghanaian cultural and moral values from external influences, human rights advocates have raised concerns, stating it infringes on freedoms of expression, association, and equality under the law.

The bill previously faced legal opposition from journalist Richard Dela Sky and academic Dr. Amanda Odoi, who contested its passage, citing a lack of parliamentary quorum.

The Supreme Court, however, dismissed their challenge, with Justice Lovelace Johnson clarifying that a bill can only be subject to constitutional scrutiny after receiving presidential assent.