Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. Ntim Fordjour, has dismissed suggestions for a renewed national dialogue on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, arguing that the issue has already undergone years of extensive scrutiny.
Speaking in remarks monitored by ShineMeGh.com, he maintained that reopening discussions would only prolong what he described as a process marked by repeated delays.
According to Rev. Fordjour, the bill has been subjected to thorough parliamentary procedures, stakeholder engagements, and judicial review over the past decade.
He recalled that at one point, the bill was even removed from Parliament’s order paper—an action he described as unprecedented and part of broader attempts to stall its progress.
His comments come in response to recent calls by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference for broader national dialogue on the legislation.
While acknowledging the Church’s position, he cautioned that further consultations could open the door for external influence, particularly from international bodies such as the United Nations Human Rights Council.
He suggested that such engagement could lead to pressure to amend key provisions of the bill.
Rev. Fordjour emphasized that the bill had already progressed through all three readings in Parliament before facing a legal challenge at the Supreme Court.
He noted that the court ultimately ruled that the bill does not violate Ghana’s Constitution or any international human rights obligations subscribed to by the country.With those processes completed, he argued that the focus should now shift to executive action rather than further debate.
According to him, the next step is for President John Dramani Mahama to engage the Speaker of Parliament and facilitate the bill’s final passage.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill continues to generate strong opinions across Ghana, with supporters pushing for swift passage and critics advocating for broader consultation.
However, Rev. Fordjour insists that the time for debate has passed, stressing that what is needed now is decisive action to conclude the legislative process.Story by: Philip Kendriz Elikem
