The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has instructed the House to revisit its approval of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ legislation.
This decision stems from doubts about whether the strong bipartisan support mentioned in the committee report was actually evident during the floor proceedings. Questions had been raised regarding the manner in which the bill was passed, prompting the Speaker’s directive.
Bagbin observed that the committee’s report had indicated unanimous backing from both Majority and Minority lawmakers. However, he noted that this same cross-party consensus did not come through clearly during the bill’s passage in Parliament.
In his view, when a committee report shows unanimous or bipartisan agreement on a bill, that consensus must be visibly reflected in the proceedings and voting process on the floor. Consequently, he believes Parliament should revisit certain aspects of the bill’s passage to ensure that the legislative record properly demonstrates the bipartisan support captured in the committee’s report.
This development adds a new twist to the journey of the contentious bill, which has sparked heated public debate at home in Ghana and internationally. The bill seeks to prohibit LGBTQ activities and advocacy in Ghana and has been pushed by a cross-section of lawmakers. Supporters say it defends Ghanaian cultural values and family norms, while critics worry about its impact on human rights and constitutional protections.
The Speaker’s move follows ongoing scrutiny of the legislative process, including whether proper procedures were followed and all parliamentary requirements met during the bill’s passage.
On June 1, President John Mahama stated that the recently passed bill would need further review before it could become law. He noted that procedural issues mean “there’s still quite a while to go.” Speaking at Chatham House in London, Mahama outlined the remaining steps after Parliament passed the bill on May 29, 2026.
The president explained that the bill began as a private member’s motion—not a government bill—and will now undergo legal and constitutional review. He said the presidency’s legal counsel and the Attorney General would examine the bill to ensure everything is in order before advising the president to assent.
Mahama also highlighted two specific problems raised about the bill’s passage: the lack of a quorum during the vote and procedural lapses in the process.
Earlier that same day, Speaker Bagbin had described the bill’s passage on Friday as unexpected, since he thought it was only supposed to be laid for consideration. He subsequently called parliamentary leadership to a crucial meeting to clarify what had happened.
President Mahama acknowledged this, noting he had received communication that the Speaker was making a statement to address the procedural lapses. Mahama added that he retains the option to refer the bill to the Council of State, an advisory body, if significant concerns emerge. He also said that if substantial issues are raised, the president can return the bill to Parliament, spelling out exactly what those issues are.
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