Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has directed the House to revisit the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, widely known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, following concerns about the legislative process that led to its approval.
The Speaker’s directive comes amid questions over whether the bipartisan support outlined in the committee report was adequately reflected during deliberations and voting on the floor of Parliament.
Addressing the House, on Tuesday June 2, Mr. Bagbin noted that the committee responsible for reviewing the bill reported unanimous support from both Majority and Minority members.
However, he indicated that the proceedings leading to the bill’s passage did not clearly demonstrate the same level of consensus.
According to him, when a committee submits a report showing broad agreement among members, that unity should be evident throughout parliamentary debates and decision-making processes.
He observed that the proceedings on the day the bill was passed failed to adequately reflect the bipartisan understanding upon which the legislation was initially considered.
As a result, the Speaker believes Parliament should revisit aspects of the process to ensure that the level of support captured in the committee report is properly reflected in the official legislative record.
Mr. Bagbin stressed that legislation of significant national importance should be grounded in broad parliamentary consensus, bipartisan cooperation, and strict adherence to constitutional and parliamentary procedures.
He emphasized that the credibility and legitimacy of any law depend not only on its intended objectives but also on the integrity of the process through which it is enacted.
The directive introduces a new twist to the ongoing debate surrounding the bill, which has generated widespread public discussion and attracted attention both within Ghana and internationally.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill seeks to prohibit LGBTQ+ activities, advocacy, and related practices in Ghana.
While supporters argue that the legislation is intended to safeguard Ghanaian cultural and family values, critics have raised concerns about its implications for human rights and constitutional freedoms.
The Speaker’s intervention also comes amid growing scrutiny over whether all parliamentary procedures were properly followed during the bill’s passage.
Reinforcing his position, Mr. Bagbin stated that legislation of such magnitude should not only secure the support of a parliamentary majority but also command broad confidence in both its substance and the process through which it was adopted.
“What is right must be done rightly,” he stated.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has indicated that the bill is still some distance from becoming law despite its passage by Parliament.
Speaking during an engagement at Chatham House in London, President Mahama explained that the legislation must undergo further legal and constitutional review before any decision is made regarding presidential assent.
The President noted that because the bill originated as a private member’s bill rather than a government-sponsored measure, it would be subjected to careful scrutiny by legal advisers at the Presidency and the Attorney-General’s Department.
He also referenced concerns that have been raised regarding the presence of a quorum during the vote, as well as other procedural issues linked to the bill’s passage.
President Mahama stated that if significant concerns are identified during the review process, the bill could be returned to Parliament with recommendations for further consideration.
His remarks followed reports that Speaker Bagbin had convened parliamentary leaders to clarify the circumstances surrounding the bill’s passage and address concerns over possible procedural lapses.
The latest developments suggest that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill may still face additional parliamentary and legal hurdles before it can receive presidential assent and become law.
By 1960news.com
