The hopes of stakeholders on having President John Dramani Mahama assent to the ”The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill” is in limbo as Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has expressed surprise at the passage of the bill in his absence.
Mr. Bagbin who was out of the law-making house when the bill was passed told journalists on Monday that, he only left instructions that the consideration stage of passage should be done.
According to the Speaker, he noted that a wide range of stakeholders, including development partners and the United Nations, had submitted memoranda and proposals on the legislation.
“In fact, when it was passed on Friday, it was even a surprise to me because I knew that they were going to start the consideration of the bill,” he stated.
“This is such a critical deal that we believe there must be consensus. It’s not about passing the bill; it’s about implementing it and making sure that it benefits the people,” he added.
Parliament on Friday passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ bill, after adopting a number of amendments.
President Mahama on passage of bill
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama, has indicated that the recently passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, still has a long way to go before it can become law.
Speaking during a question-and-answer session at Chatham House in UK on Monday June 1, President Mahama said several procedural and legal issues surrounding the bill must first be addressed before any decision is taken on presidential assent.
The President noted that the legislation has attracted significant public attention because of its implications for family values and social policy in Ghana.
“The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill has probably been the bill that has evoked the most interest in Ghana. It shows how important issues of family values are,” he said.
He cited concerns over whether there was a quorum at the time of its passage, as well as allegations of procedural lapses during the legislative process.
“There have been a few issues raised. One, that there wasn’t quorum when it was passed. That’s an issue that has come up, and then two, there were some procedural lapses in terms of its passage,” he stated.
Anticipation from watchers
With the two leading figures in the governing party raising concerns about the passage of the bill, some watchers are apprehensive about its future.
Convener of #fixthecountry, Oliver Barker-Vormawor took to his social media handles suggesting that a motion might be filed to challenge the passage of the bill.
He wrote, “My suspicion is that a motion will be brought in Parliament to nullify the 3rd Reading and Passage of the Anti-LGBTQ Bill.
