Delegates at the Fourth African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Sovereignty and Values in Accra have called on President John Dramani Mahama to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill once it is formally presented for approval.
The gathering, which brought together lawmakers, religious leaders, and policy advocates from across the continent, has focused on debates around cultural identity, national sovereignty, and the direction of social policy in Africa.
A major highlight of the discussions was renewed backing for Ghana’s Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, with several participants arguing that African countries should retain full authority over their domestic social legislation without external pressure or influence.
Kenyan medical practitioner Wahome Ngare was among those who defended the legislation, stating that it has often been misinterpreted and should instead be assessed based on its intended legal and policy objectives.
He also expressed readiness to support efforts to ensure the bill meets constitutional requirements, stressing the importance of strengthening it to withstand legal scrutiny.
Beyond the bill, the conference broadened into wider discussions on what participants described as the need for Africa to assert greater independence in shaping both social and health policies.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Member of Parliament for Lambussie, Titus Beyuo, urged African governments to take stronger ownership of their health systems and reduce reliance on external actors in determining policy direction.
He referenced Ghana’s ongoing health sovereignty agenda, including the African Health Sovereignty Summit and the “Accra Reset” framework, as examples of efforts aimed at strengthening locally driven health governance.
Speakers at the conference emphasised that issues such as family values, healthcare policy, and social development should be shaped primarily by African traditions, constitutional processes, and national priorities.
The conference is expected to continue with further deliberations on policy independence, cultural preservation, and strategies to strengthen governance systems across the continent.
