Rev. Ntim Fordjour has dismissed calls for a new national dialogue on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, arguing that the issue has already been comprehensively addressed through parliamentary procedures, public consultations, and judicial review.
Speaking on Joy News’ Top Story, he contended that reopening discussions would be redundant and could undermine progress made on the legislation, which he said has faced a prolonged history of obstruction.
“Even at the very first stage, it was deleted from the order paper, a practice that has never been seen in the history of Parliament,” he stated, describing the development as part of a pattern of “delay, filibustering and blocking.”
His remarks come in response to a recent call by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference for broader national dialogue on the bill. While acknowledging the Church’s position, Fordjour cautioned that renewed consultations could create avenues for external influence on the legislative process.
“The calling for national dialogue… is going to fall into the trap of the United Nations Human Rights Council, who have written a very long statement… urging the foreign minister to advise stakeholders to change or amend certain parts of the bill,” he said.
Fordjour maintained that extensive engagement on the bill has already taken place over the past decade. He noted that the previous Parliament completed all three readings before the legislation became subject to a challenge at the Supreme Court.
“The Supreme Court settled it… and ruled that no aspect of the bill violates our constitution, nor does any part violate any international human rights treaty obligations that the government has subscribed to,” he asserted.
He concluded that the process now requires decisive executive action, calling on President John Dramani Mahama to engage the Speaker of Parliament and facilitate the bill’s final passage.
