Catholic Bishops Reject ‘Waste of Time’ Label in Family Values Debate, Urge President to Honour Bill Assent Pledge

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has pushed back against suggestions that national discussions on family values and LGBTQ+ issues are inconsequential, while calling on President John Dramani Mahama to honour his earlier commitment to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill if it is passed by Parliament.

In a statement dated April 10, 2026, and signed by Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Conference, the bishops responded to recent public comments attributed to the President and the Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.

Concerns Over Public Remarks

The bishops cited reports that the President, speaking at the World Affairs Council, described LGBTQ+ matters as “not the most important issue we face as a nation”, while the Minister subsequently suggested such issues are “not a major priority for Ghanaians” and characterised the debate as a “waste of time.”

“Even if intended to prioritise urgent socio-economic concerns, such descriptions risk conveying that certain moral questions may be set aside as inconsequential,” the bishops said. “Yet no question that touches the structure of human identity, family life, and social continuity can be trivial. Nations do not live by bread alone.”

Ethics and Development Intertwined

The Conference rejected what it described as a false dichotomy between economic priorities and moral considerations, arguing that strong family systems are closely linked to improved educational outcomes, reduced crime, and enhanced economic mobility.

“To weaken the moral ecology of the family is to erode the very conditions that make sustainable development possible,” the statement read.

The bishops reaffirmed what they described as two complementary principles: the inherent dignity of every individual, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, and the responsibility of society to uphold the institution of the family founded on the union of a man and a woman.

“No individual, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, may be subjected to violence, hatred, or unjust discrimination. Such acts are moral failures and social wounds. We condemn them without reservation,” they said.

Call to Honour Presidential Assurance

On the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, the bishops recalled the President’s earlier public assurance that he would assent to the Bill if it was duly passed in line with constitutional processes.

“Democratic integrity rests, in part, on the fidelity of leaders to their publicly stated commitments. Should Parliament complete its deliberations and pass the Bill, we urge the President to honour this assurance,” they said.

At the same time, the Conference acknowledged that certain provisions in the Bill have raised legitimate concerns and should be subjected to thorough parliamentary scrutiny and possible refinement.

Call for Respectful National Dialogue

The bishops urged stakeholders — including the Executive, Parliament, religious bodies, traditional authorities, and civil society — to engage in constructive dialogue marked by respect, intellectual depth, and moral clarity.

“The Church remains committed to participating in this dialogue, not as one who imposes, but as one who proposes, confident that truth, when patiently articulated, has a quiet persuasive power,” the statement added.