Legal and environmental policy analyst Dr Manaseh Mintah says that President John Mahama would be reinforcing Africa’s autonomy if he assents to the anti-LBGTQ+ bill once Parliament approves it.

Speaking on the AM Show, Dr Mintah argued that the President’s stance aligns with his long-held belief that Africa “has come of age” and must resist external pressure, particularly from Western governments.

According to him, approving the bill would “send a message to those in the West who want to continuously bully Africa” and demonstrate Ghana’s ability to manage its own affairs without foreign influence.

He said the move ties into a broader vision of African self-determination, explaining that President Mahama has consistently advocated for what he describes as an “egalitarian African philosophy” rooted in cultural identity and independence.

Dr Mintah added that recent economic improvements give the government greater confidence to assert itself.

“The economy has just had a turnover,” he noted, suggesting that Ghana is now better positioned to chart its own path without relying heavily on Western support.

He further argued that the debate should go beyond the anti-LBGTQ+ provisions and be viewed in the context of decolonisation and cultural preservation.

“What you want to impose on us is alien to us…Our culture, our values, our orientation are different from yours,” he said.