Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has directed the House to reconsider the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, widely known as the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, following concerns about whether the level of bipartisan support outlined in the committee report was adequately reflected during proceedings on the floor of Parliament.
The directive comes after questions were raised about the manner in which the controversial bill was passed by Parliament.
According to the Speaker, the committee report accompanying the bill indicated that members from both the Majority and Minority sides had unanimously supported the proposed legislation. However, he noted that the same level of consensus was not clearly demonstrated during the debate and decision-making process in the House.
Mr. Bagbin explained that when a committee presents a report showing unanimous or bipartisan support for a bill, that consensus should be evident in the proceedings leading to its passage.
“Neither did the proceedings of that day convey the unanimity, nor bipartisan understanding upon which the bill was initially promoted and deliberated upon,” he stated.
The Speaker stressed that legislation of such national significance should be built on broad parliamentary support, bipartisan cooperation, and strict adherence to constitutional and parliamentary procedures.
“My concern is that legislation of such profound national importance should proceed on a foundation of broad parliamentary support, bipartisan cooperation, and scrupulous adherence to the procedures established by the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament. The legitimacy, credibility, and enduring authority of any law depend not only on the objectives sought to be achieved, but also on the integrity of the process by which the law is enacted,” he said.
As a result, Parliament has been directed to revisit aspects of the bill’s passage to ensure that the bipartisan support captured in the committee report is properly reflected in the legislative process.
The development marks a fresh twist in the journey of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, which has sparked intense debate both within Ghana and internationally.
The bill seeks to prohibit LGBTQ+ activities and advocacy in Ghana and has been championed by a group of lawmakers from both sides of the House. Supporters argue that it aims to protect Ghanaian family values and cultural norms, while critics contend that it raises concerns about human rights and constitutional freedoms.
The Speaker’s intervention also comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the legislative process surrounding the bill, including questions about procedural compliance and whether all parliamentary requirements were fully met during its passage.
Mr. Bagbin maintained that legislation of such magnitude should, as far as possible, command not only the support of a majority of Members of Parliament but also the broader confidence of the House regarding both its substance and the process through which it was adopted.
