The Minority in Parliament is piling pressure for the swift passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, insisting it be approved under a certificate of urgency immediately the House resumes from recess.
The proposed legislation, which seeks to criminalise activities related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons, has remained one of the most debated bills in the country’s recent legislative history.
Minority members have argued that fast-tracking its passage is necessary to bring closure to prolonged public discourse and uncertainty surrounding the bill.
Speaking at the close of a two-day stakeholder engagement, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee and Member of Parliament for Gushegu, Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli, said the committee must ensure the bill is passed on the same day it is presented to the plenary.
According to him, Parliament has precedent in passing critical legislation under certificates of urgency, and this bill, given its national significance and sustained public attention, meets that threshold.
“We, on the Minority, believe that when Parliament resumes, this bill should be passed under a certificate of urgency. It is important to bring finality to a matter that has been in the public domain for a long time, and to ensure that the President assents to it on the same day it is passed,” he stated.
He further stressed that the committee has the authority to determine the urgency of the bill and should not hesitate to act decisively.
However, Chairman of the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, Shaibu Mahama, offered a more measured stance, indicating that while the bill will indeed be considered upon Parliament’s return, the question of urgency is secondary to the assurance of presidential assent.
“We do not rank bills in order of importance. What is critical is that we have a President who is prepared to assent to the bill when it is passed, regardless of the timeline,” he intimated.
He assured Ghanaians that the legislative process would proceed once the House resumes, adding that the committee remains committed to ensuring the bill is brought before the floor for consideration.
By Ernest Kofi Adu