The Ghana Centre for Religion and Public Life (GCRPL) has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama. The faith-based civil society organisation (CSO) claims it was excluded from discussions on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025. GCRPL argues this exclusion prevented some organisations from receiving a fair hearing during the legislative process.
In their petition, GCRPL expressed concerns about the public hearings and stakeholder consultations. These were conducted by Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, had previously announced the completion of these engagements. GCRPL stated they made efforts to engage Parliament but received no response to their prior correspondence.
This situation highlights ongoing debates about inclusivity in Ghanaian lawmaking. Recent legislative processes have often faced scrutiny over stakeholder engagement. The GCRPL’s petition points to a potential challenge in ensuring diverse voices are heard. This is especially relevant for sensitive legislation like the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill. The 2025 bill has sparked significant public interest and debate across the nation.
GCRPL’s petition, dated May 25, 2026, was specifically addressed to President Mahama. It detailed their attempt to engage the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs. This included a letter sent on April 27, 2026. No feedback was received on that correspondence. The organisation believes this omission undermines fundamental human rights and fair hearing principles.
The petition states that while some selected stakeholders and CSOs participated, GCRPL was not given an opportunity to present its views. “The fact of the matter was that some selected stakeholders and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) were invited to participate in the consideration of the above-stated bill, yet the committee failed to provide us with an opportunity to be heard,” the document reads. GCRPL sees this as a restriction of their rights and evidence of the committee’s arbitrary actions.
The organisation appealed to President Mahama to intervene. They urged him to advise Parliament to conduct broader consultations. This, they argue, is in line with constitutional provisions and the principles of natural justice. Rev. Canon Dr Confidence Worlanyo Bansah, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of GCRPL, signed the petition.