Rev Canon Dr Confidence Bansah, the founder of the Centre for Religion and Public Life (CRPL) and lecturer in Religion and Human Values at the University of Cape Coast, has clarified his recent remarks on the controversial LGBTQ+ debate.

According to him, his views were misrepresented in a GhanaWeb publication dated April 7, 2026, titled “4 pastors who have slammed President Mahama over comments on LGBTQ+.”

Dr Bansah stressed that his position "has consistently been rooted in governance priorities and human dignity and not partisan or personality-driven criticism."

In a rejoinder on April 8, 2026, he explained that his comments questioning the prioritisation of LGBTQ+ legislation were part of a broader national conversation.

He maintained that "Ghana’s policy focus should be directed toward urgent socio-economic challenges such as poverty alleviation, healthcare, education and job creation, rather than being framed as an attack on President John Dramani Mahama."

Dr Bansah further highlighted that CRPL-Ghana has formally and publicly opposed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025 in its entirety.

He noted that this position directly contradicts the narrative implied by the earlier publication.

In a memorandum submitted to Parliament, CRPL-Ghana described the Bill as “grievously and deadly discriminatory” and called for its outright rejection.

The organisation warned that its passage could result in widespread human rights violations, social injustice, and heightened vulnerability for already marginalised groups.

CRPL-Ghana’s opposition was grounded in both constitutional principles and religious teachings.

4 pastors who have slammed President Mahama over comments on LGBTQ+

The group emphasised that the Bill undermines values of love, dignity, justice, and equality upheld in Christianity and Islam.

It rejected attempts to frame LGBTQ+ issues through narrow cultural or religious lenses, stressing that Ghana’s diverse society cannot be governed by a single moral interpretation.

Read his full statement below:

Rejoinder: Setting the Record Straight on Rev. Canon Dr. Confidence Bansah’s Position

Recent publication by GhanaWeb suggesting that Rev Canon Dr Confidence Bansah “slammed” President John Dramani Mahama over comments on LGBTQ+ issues is not only misleading but also a misrepresentation of his long-held and clearly documented position.

At no point did Dr Bansah direct his remarks at the President, nor were his comments a reaction to the President’s statements.

His views, as consistently articulated, are rooted in a broader, principled stance on governance priorities and human dignity not partisan or personality-driven criticism.

Dr Bansah, who is Founder of the Centre for Religion and Public Life (CRPL-Ghana), has maintained a clear and unwavering position: that Ghana’s policy focus must prioritise pressing socio-economic challenges such as poverty, healthcare, education, and job creation.

His recent remarks questioning the prioritisation of LGBTQ+ legislation were part of this broader national conversation not an attack on the President.

More importantly, CRPL-Ghana has publicly and formally opposed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025 in its entirety, a position that sharply contradicts the narrative implied by the publication.

In a memorandum submitted to Parliament, the organisation described the Bill as “grievously and deadly discriminatory” and called for its outright rejection. The group warned that its passage could lead to widespread human rights violations, social injustice, and increased vulnerability for already marginalised groups.

CRPL-Ghana grounded its opposition in both constitutional principles and religious teachings, emphasising that the Bill undermines core values of love, dignity, justice, and equality upheld in Christianity and Islam.

It rejected attempts to frame LGBTQ+ issues through narrow cultural or religious lenses, noting that Ghana’s diverse society cannot be governed by a single moral interpretation.

The organisation also raised serious concerns about:

The potential for violence and abuse, including physical and psychological harm

Public health risks arising from stigma and marginalization

Ethical dilemmas posed by mandatory reporting requirements for professionals

Threats to academic freedom, particularly the criminalisation of research and discourse

CRPL-Ghana further dismissed comparisons between LGBTQ+ individuals and criminal elements as dangerous and unfounded, stressing that such narratives only deepen division and misunderstanding.

It is therefore inaccurate and misleading to suggest that Dr Bansah’s comments were aligned with any attempt to criticise or “slam” the President. On the contrary, his views reflect a consistent, independent, and values-driven position one that simultaneously calls for:

A rejection of the controversial Bill

A more compassionate and inclusive national dialogue

A redirection of focus toward urgent developmental needs

The attempt to link his remarks to President Mahama’s comments creates a false narrative that distorts both context and intent.

In the interest of responsible journalism and public discourse, it is important that media platforms accurately represent the views of individuals and institutions, particularly on sensitive national issues.

Dr Bansah’s position remains clear: reject the LGBTQ+ Bill on grounds of human rights and national cohesion, while prioritising policies that directly improve the lives of Ghanaians not political point-scoring or mischaracterisation.

Center for Religion and Public Life

52 Elmina Street

Lakeside Estate

Accra

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