Family values bill remains a national priority, Gov’t can handle multiple issues- Sam George

Communication Minister pushes back against President’s suggestion that legislation is not urgent

Accra — Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam Nartey George, has firmly defended the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill as a key national priority, rejecting arguments that Ghana has more pressing concerns to address.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event on Thursday, the Ningo-Prampram MP insisted the government is capable of tackling multiple challenges simultaneously. He argued that ongoing efforts to fix infrastructure and social services should not come at the expense of the proposed legislation.

“This is a priority for us. Any country worth its salt can deal with multiple priorities at the same time,” Mr. George said.

“We are dealing with our roads, our hospitals, our schools, our water. We will also deal with our family values,” he added.

His remarks follow comments attributed to President John Dramani Mahama, who told civil society organisations on March 30 that while the bill is important, it does not rank among the nation’s most urgent challenges.

“I explained during my recent engagement with the World Affairs Council that it is not the most important issue we face as a nation,” President Mahama was quoted as saying. “We are still grappling with the provisions of basic needs of education, health care, jobs, food, clothing, and shelter.”

The divergence in emphasis has sparked public debate, with critics accusing the government of sending mixed signals. Religious groups and other supporters of the bill continue to push for its swift passage, while human rights organisations and some international partners have expressed concern.

‘This Is About Child Protection’

Mr. George, a key sponsor of the bill, rejected calls to deprioritise the legislation, citing a recent incident he said underscores its relevance to family values and child protection.

“People don’t understand what this is about. Just last week, I had to help a father whose twenty-one-year-old son had been abducted by someone who was sodomising him as his gay lover,” Mr. George revealed.

He said a 55-year-old UK-Ghanaian individual had allegedly kept the young man away from his father. The Minister praised COP Lydia Donkor, Director-General of the CID, for working with his team to track down the suspect and rescue the victim.

“To those who say we have other priorities, this is a priority for us,” he reiterated. “We’re not saying we should stop building roads because we don’t have enough hospital beds. We are dealing with our roads, hospitals, schools, and water. We will also deal with our family values.”

Electoral Mandate

The Ningo-Prampram lawmaker pointed to his increased vote margin in the 2024 parliamentary election as evidence of public backing for his position.

“The people voted for me, and that was one of the reasons why they increased my vote margin from 69 percent to 74 percent. They said, ‘Sam, go back to Parliament and make sure this bill is passed,’” he stated.

“So for my people in Ningo-Prampram and me, this is a priority, along with our roads, health clinics, school blocks, and the water problem we are tackling.”

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, widely known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, remains a deeply divisive issue in Ghana, drawing strong support from parliamentary and religious circles while facing sharp criticism from rights advocates and parts of the international community.