The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has issued a strong pastoral statement urging Ghanaians to treat the ongoing LGBTQ+ debate with seriousness, cautioning against dismissing it as insignificant.
The statement, released on April 10, 2026, follows recent comments by former President John Dramani Mahama and Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who suggested the issue is not a major national priority.
Responding to this, the bishops stressed that the matter goes beyond politics, stating: “No question that touches the structure of human identity, family life, and social continuity can be trivial.”
While acknowledging Ghana’s economic challenges, the Conference rejected any attempt to separate moral concerns from development, emphasizing:
“Nations do not live by bread alone. They are sustained also by the invisible architecture of values.”
On the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, the bishops called for a balanced approach, one that upholds both human dignity and the institution of the family.
They firmly condemned all forms of discrimination, declaring: “No individual, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, may be subjected to violence, hatred, or unjust discrimination.”
At the same time, they reaffirmed their position on family values, describing the family as a nation’s most efficient social welfare system.
Adding that, “To affirm dignity does not require the redefinition of marriage. To defend marriage does not require hostility.”
The bishops also reminded President Mahama of his earlier commitment to assent to the bill if duly passed, noting that, “Democratic integrity rests… on the fidelity of leaders to their publicly stated commitments.”
They concluded with a call for calm and respectful engagement across all sectors of society, warning that words can either build a republic of trust or fracture it into suspicion.
The GCBC says it remains committed to contributing to a national conversation grounded in respect, moral clarity, and the common good.
By Theresa Kpordzo//Newswatchgh.com
