Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has indicated that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, can still be reconsidered by Parliament despite its passage by the House.
Addressing Parliament, Bagbin appealed to Members of Parliament to revisit the decision taken during the bill’s third reading, arguing that doing so would strengthen public confidence in the legislation and ensure that all parliamentary procedures were fully complied with.
“Accordingly, I respectfully appeal to members to reflect carefully on 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, to revisit its decision on the third reading of the Bill,” Bagbin stated.
The Speaker stressed that reconsidering the legislation should not be interpreted as an attempt to abandon or derail the bill.
“Rather, it would represent a reaffirmation of Parliament’s commitment to due process, fidelity to the Constitution, consensus building, transparency and legislative certainty,” he said.
“It would ensure that any final decision taken by the House reflects not only the will of Parliament but also the fullest support of Ghanaians in the law that is ultimately enacted.”
Bagbin explained that concerns had emerged regarding the final stages of the bill’s passage, particularly whether the amended version was made available to MPs in accordance with Parliament’s Standing Orders before the third reading.
According to him, Orders 170, 171, and 172 exist to ensure that lawmakers have an adequate opportunity to examine the exact text of a bill before taking a final decision.
“I have also taken note of concerns expressed by some members that amendments adopted during the consideration stage did not reflect the position taken by the committee as stated in the conclusion of the committee’s report,” he noted.
The Speaker further observed that the proceedings leading to the passage of the bill did not reflect the level of consensus and bipartisan cooperation that had characterised the legislation from its inception.
He cautioned that Parliament must ensure its actions can withstand any future legal scrutiny.
“The eye of the world is on Ghana’s Parliament. What we do here must be able to withstand any legal and constitutional challenges that are sure to come,” Bagbin said.
According to him, the bill touches on issues relating to Ghana’s moral convictions, cultural values, constitutional principles and social aspirations, making it important for Parliament to proceed in a manner that commands broad public confidence.
“It is therefore my considered view that a legislation of this magnitude ought, as far as practicable, to command not merely the numerical support of a majority of members, but also the broad confidence of the House regarding both its substance and the process by which it was adopted. What is right must be done rightly,” he stated.
Bagbin expressed confidence that lawmakers would approach the matter with patriotism and a commitment to preserving the integrity of Parliament.
