African Leaders at the Fourth African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Sovereignty and Values have urged President John Dramani Mahama to give assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill once it is presented for presidential approval.
The conference, currently underway in Accra, has brought together parliamentarians, religious leaders, policymakers, and advocacy groups from across the continent to deliberate on issues relating to family values, national sovereignty, and Africa’s cultural identity.
Calls for the enactment of Ghana’s Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill dominated discussions during the second day of the event, with several speakers arguing that African nations should retain the authority to shape their social policies without external interference.
Among those advocating for the bill was Kenyan obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr. Wahome Ngare, who commended Ghana’s Parliament for approving the legislation and encouraged stakeholders to ensure it successfully completes the legal process.
Dr. Ngare argued that the bill has often been misunderstood by its critics, insisting that its provisions should be assessed based on its stated objectives rather than public perceptions. He also expressed readiness to support efforts aimed at addressing any legal concerns that could hinder the implementation of the legislation, stressing the importance of ensuring that the bill withstands constitutional scrutiny.
Beyond the debate on the bill, discussions at the conference focused on what participants described as the need for African countries to preserve their cultural values, strengthen legislative independence, and resist undue external influence in policymaking.
Speakers maintained that decisions on social and family-related issues should be guided by the traditions, beliefs, and constitutional frameworks of individual African states. The conference also examined matters relating to health sovereignty, with participants advocating greater self-reliance in the development and implementation of healthcare policies across the continent.
Source: Classfmonline
