Alban Bagbin
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has explained that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, ceased to exist legally with the dissolution of the Eighth Parliament.
He explained that the bill, like all unfinished parliamentary business, lapsed at the end of that term and therefore had to be reintroduced in the current Ninth Parliament.
Addressing Members of Parliament yesterday, Mr. Bagbin stated that the expiration of the bill’s status was a constitutional consequence, not a procedural oversight.
“All the businesses that were pending in the Eighth Parliament ended with the Eighth Parliament. And so, in the Ninth Parliament, what was pending had to be reintroduced,” he intimated.
He revealed that after the Eighth Parliament passed the bill, it was transmitted to the then President for assent. However, the Presidency declined to sign it into law and failed to return it to Parliament as required by the Constitution.
“They wrote to tell us they would not assent to it. But they did not give us the reasons nor transmit the bill back to us. They imprisoned it there, and so we didn’t get the bill back,” Mr. Bagbin explained.
Following the start of the new Parliament, the bill, which was introduced as a private member’s bill, was taken up again by Members of the Ninth Parliament and processed through all the necessary stages in accordance with parliamentary procedure.
The Speaker disclosed that although the new government had expressed interest in taking over the bill as a public bill, he opposed that move.
He emphasised that the initiative must remain a private member’s bill since it was originally championed by Ghanaians, including traditional authorities, religious leaders, and civil society organisations, and not by the Executive.
“I made it known to His Excellency the President that this is an initiative of our people – the traditional leaders, the religious leaders, and civil society leaders. Ghanaians wanted this bill passed as a private members’ bill, and so be it,” the Speaker said.
He assured the House and the public that the legislative processes have now been completed and that the bill will soon return to Parliament for the Speaker’s formal action before being laid again.
He also disclosed that both sides of the House support the bill, and the President has indicated his readiness to assent to it once passed.
Mr. Bagbin appealed to civil society groups and the public to exercise patience, emphasising that Parliament is committed to ensuring the bill’s proper passage under the constitution.
“Civil society is getting restless again, but I want to assure them that they know my passion in this matter. I want it properly passed so that implementation becomes easier,” he said.
The Speaker added that Parliament is addressing a few technical issues identified in the draft to ensure the law reflects national consensus and withstands constitutional scrutiny.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, first introduced in the Eighth Parliament, seeks to criminalise same-sex relationships and the promotion or advocacy of LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House