A political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Abdul Jalilu Ateku, has called for greater focus on economic challenges and youth unemployment rather than legislation targetingLGBTQ+ persons, as debate over Ghana’s Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill continues.

Talking to Wilberforce Asare on The Forum on Asaase Radio on Saturday (6 June), Ateku argued that Ghana’s constitutional democracy should protect individual freedoms while allowing citizens to hold personal religious and moral beliefs.

“In my candid opinion, I do not think that it is something that is necessary,” Ateku said. “The key issues that we need to deal with are economic issues and unemployment among the youth.”

The academic, who identified himself as a Muslim, stressed that Ghana is not a theocratic state but a secular constitutional democracy that guarantees rights and freedoms under its Constitution and international human rights commitments.

“Ghana is not a theocratic state. Ghana is a secular state and we have a constitutional democracy,” he said. “We have decided as Ghanaians to give ourselves a constitution with full rights and to be part of international human rights laws.”

Ateku said he neither supports legalizing same-sex marriage nor passing laws that criminalize what consenting adults do in their private lives.

“If God has created us as men and women to marry and you decide that you are going the other way, what does it concern me?” he asked.

He also warned that legislation perceived as restrictive could have broader implications for Ghana’s international standing and economic prospects, including foreign direct investment.

His comments come after Alban Bagbin directed Parliament to reconsider the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, despite its passage by lawmakers.

The Speaker on June 2 called for further engagement between the Majority and Minority leadership following consultations aimed at building broader consensus around the legislation. Bagbin said he was surprised that the bill was fully passed on May 29, explaining that he had expected Parliament to begin only the consideration stage before proceedings ended.

According to the Speaker, the bill’s sensitive nature and the intense public debate surrounding it require wider consultation and consensus among key stakeholders before further action is taken.

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill seeks to strengthen restrictions on same-sex relationships and criminalize the promotion, advocacy and funding of LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana.

The proposed legislation has remained one of the country’s most contentious political issues, drawing strong support from religious and traditional groups while attracting criticism from human rights advocates, who argue that it could infringe on constitutional freedoms and damage Ghana’s international reputation.

The bill’s future remains uncertain as lawmakers revisit the process amid ongoing legal, political and public debate over its constitutional, social and economic implications.