Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has directed Parliament to revisit the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, widely known as the anti-LGBTQ bill.
The decision follows concerns about whether the strong bipartisan support highlighted in the committee’s report was properly reflected during debates and voting on the floor of Parliament.
Addressing the issue, Mr. Bagbin noted that the committee report accompanying the bill indicated unanimous support from both Majority and Minority members.
However, he said that the level of consensus was not clearly demonstrated during the proceedings in the House.
According to the Speaker, when a committee presents a report showing unanimous or bipartisan backing for a bill, that agreement should be evident in the discussions and decision-making process on the floor.
His directive comes amid growing scrutiny over the procedures used in passing the controversial legislation.
“Neither did the proceedings of that day convey the unanimity, nor bipartisan understanding upon which the bill was initially promoted and deliberated upon,” he said.
It is therefore the Speaker’s view that Parliament must return to reconsider aspects of the bill’s passage to ensure that the bipartisan support captured in the committee report is properly demonstrated and reflected in the legislative process.
“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 added.
The development introduces a fresh twist to the passage of the controversial legislation, which has generated intense public debate both within Ghana and internationally.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill seeks to prohibit LGBTQ activities and advocacy in Ghana and has been championed by a group of bipartisan lawmakers.
While supporters argue that it seeks to protect Ghanaian family values and cultural norms, critics have raised concerns about its implications for human rights and constitutional freedoms.
The Speaker’s intervention comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the legislative process surrounding the bill, including questions about procedural compliance and whether all parliamentary requirements were met during its passage.
He explained that “a legislation of this magnitude ought, as far as practicable, to command not merely the numerous support of a majority of Members, but also the broad confidence of the House regarding both its sustenance and the process by which it was adopted”.
“What is right must be done rightly.”
