Alban Bagbin
Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin, has directed that the reintroduced Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill be scheduled for consideration by the House, after ruling that it complies with constitutional and procedural requirements.
Addressing Members of Parliament (MPs) on the floor of the House yesterday, the Speaker said the controversial bill, which was passed by the Eighth Parliament in February 2024, but lapsed after it was not assented to by the President, had now gone through the necessary processes for reintroduction.
He explained that following the inauguration of the Ninth Parliament, he referred the bill to the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice for review and comments. The Attorney General’s office submitted its observations in April 2025, which were subsequently forwarded to the sponsors of the bill for consideration.
Mr. Bagbin noted that, in February 2025, a group of MPs formally indicated their intention to reintroduce the bill. The sponsors include Samuel Nartey George, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Dr. Tiah Abdul-Kabiru Mahama and Anthony Mmieh.
According to the Speaker, the reintroduced bill was subjected to legal scrutiny in line with the Standing Orders of Parliament.
He added that a legal opinion submitted in March 2025 indicated that the proposed legislation fell within the competence of the House.
He continued that a fiscal impact analysis report, as required under the Public Financial Management Act, had also been submitted and reviewed.
The Speaker further referred the bill to the Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Motions to determine whether it complied with the Constitution.
The committee, he said, unanimously concluded that the bill maintained its core objectives and did not contravene any constitutional provisions, particularly Articles 106 and 108.
“The committee observed that the bill does not contain any provision that seeks to impose taxation or a charge on the Consolidated Fund,” Mr. Bagbin told the House.
Based on the committee’s report, he said he had formed the opinion that the bill satisfied constitutional requirements and had gone through all the relevant processes in accordance with the Standing Orders.
“I therefore direct that the bill be scheduled by the Business Committee to be presented to the House for consideration,” he ruled.
Dual Citizenship Amendment
In a related development, the Speaker also directed that a constitutional amendment bill seeking to remove restrictions on dual citizens holding certain public offices be scheduled for presentation to the House.
Mr. Bagbin explained that the proposal was first initiated in the Eighth Parliament by the Member of Parliament for Akyem-Swedru, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, who sought assistance to draft the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
The bill proposes to amend provisions of the Constitution that currently bar persons who owe allegiance to another country from occupying specific public offices. If passed, the amendment would allow dual citizens to hold positions such as Ambassador or High Commissioner, Secretary to Cabinet, Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector-General of Police, Director of Immigration Service and Member of Parliament.
The Speaker said the original bill was laid before the House in June 2022 and referred to the Council of State in accordance with Article 291(2) of the Constitution.
The Council of State, in July 2022, advised that the constitutional processes for the proposed amendment should proceed.
He noted that the bill successfully passed the second reading stage but could not proceed to the consideration stage before the dissolution of the Eighth Parliament, leading to its lapse.
Following the inauguration of the Ninth Parliament, the bill was revived as the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The sponsor later requested the addition of three co-sponsors, namely Kwame Governs Agbodza, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah and David Opoku.
Mr. Bagbin said the reintroduced bill underwent the required legal and fiscal scrutiny. A legal opinion indicated that the House had the legislative competence to consider the amendment, while the fiscal impact analysis report concluded that the proposal would not impose a short-term burden on the state and could yield long-term benefits.
The bill was subsequently referred to the Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Motions, which unanimously advised that it complied with the relevant constitutional provisions.
Having reviewed the committee’s report, the Speaker said he was satisfied that the amendment did not impose taxation or create a charge on the Consolidated Fund under Article 108 of the Constitution.
He, therefore, directed the Business Committee to schedule both the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill and the Constitutional Amendment Bill for consideration.
He urged MPs to study both proposals carefully, describing them as “two critical bills” that would not be rushed through Parliament but handled in a manner that serves the interests of the people.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House