President John Dramani Mahama has called for broader stakeholder consultations on social policies, emphasizing that discussions on Ghana’s cultural values should be inclusive rather than dictated by external influences.
In an interview with Bloomberg’s Next Africa, Mahama stressed the need for open dialogue on issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, stating that policy decisions should reflect the perspectives of all relevant stakeholders, including religious leaders, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, and the general public.
“What we need is more stakeholder consultation to look at whatever new bill will come and make sure that we carry everybody on board,” he asserted.
His comments come at a time when Ghana has been engaged in heated debates over legislation concerning LGBTQ+ rights, with international financial institutions like the World Bank and the IMF reportedly linking funding decisions to the country’s stance on such issues.
Mahama maintained that while Ghana remains open to international cooperation, its social policies should be shaped through internal consensus rather than external pressure.
“Multilateral institutions should avoid getting into cultural matters,” he remarked. “This is a diverse world. We have different cultures.”
By advocating for stakeholder engagement, Mahama positioned himself as a leader who prioritizes inclusive governance.
He suggested that rather than relying solely on laws to uphold family values, Ghana should focus on community-driven approaches, particularly through 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,” he explained.
Meanwhile, watch this Ghana Month special edition of People and Places as we hear the story of how the head of Kwame Nkrumah’s bronze statue was returned after 43 years, below: