Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has effectively invalidated the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, and called on Parliament to revisit the legislation over concerns about procedural irregularities during its final approval.
Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament yesterday, Mr. Bagbin said the circumstances surrounding the bill’s passage on May 29, 2026, had raised serious questions about compliance with the House’s Standing Orders and the integrity of the legislative process.
He stressed that while the bill had been widely supported by Ghanaians and promoted as a bipartisan initiative, Parliament must ensure that legislation of such national importance is passed in strict accordance with established procedures.
According to the Speaker, records of the House show that the bill was taken through the consideration stage, read a third time and passed on the same day.
He noted, however, that Standing Orders 170, 171 and 172 require amendments adopted during the consideration stage to be incorporated into the final text and made available to Members of Parliament (MPs) before the third reading.
He further pointed out that the Standing Orders stipulate that at least one sitting day should elapse between the consideration stage and the third reading of a bill unless the House formally suspends the relevant rules.
“While the House possesses the power to suspend any Standing Order with the leave of the House, it did not do so this time,” Mr. Bagbin stated.
The Speaker said concerns had been raised about whether the final amended version of the bill was made available to members before the third reading, enabling them to fully appreciate the exact text on which they were voting.
He also noted complaints from some MPs that amendments adopted during the consideration stage did not fully reflect the recommendations contained in the committee’s report, which had unanimously endorsed the bill.
Mr. Bagbin observed that the proceedings on the day of passage did not reflect the bipartisan consensus that had characterised the bill throughout much of its legislative journey.
“The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 and its implications on the LGBTQ issue is a global concern. Therefore, the eyes of the world are upon this Parliament,” he said, and added, “What we do here must be able to withstand any legal and constitutional challenges that are sure to come.”
The Speaker argued that legislation of such magnitude should command not only majority support but also broad parliamentary confidence in both its content and the process through which it was adopted.
“What is right must be done rightly,” he declared.
Mr. Bagbin therefore appealed to Parliament to revisit the bill and reconsider its final text and amendments in a manner that would restore bipartisan consensus and reinforce public confidence in the legislative process.
He maintained that returning to the bill would not amount to rejecting its objectives but would rather demonstrate Parliament’s commitment to due process, transparency, constitutional fidelity and legislative certainty.
“Accordingly, I respectfully appeal to honourable members to reflect carefully upon the issues raised and to consider, in the larger national interest, the bipartisan character of the bill, the unity of the House and the nation, and the need to maintain the highest standards of procedural integrity,” he said.
The Speaker expressed confidence that lawmakers would approach the matter with wisdom, patriotism and a shared commitment to preserving the integrity of Parliament and Ghana’s democratic institutions.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the Anti-LGBTQ Bill, was passed by Parliament on May 29 after heated debate and consideration.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House