Anti-LGBTQI Bill to be reintroduced in parliament- Speaker directs
In a statement to MPs at the start of business, Mr Bagbin said he acted on unanimous advice from the Committees on Private Members’ Bills and Private Members’ Motions, which recommended that the bill be reintroduced.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has approved the reintroduction of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, paving the way for it to be brought back to the floor of the House.
In a statement to MPs at the start of business, Mr Bagbin said he acted on unanimous advice from the Committees on Private Members’ Bills and Private Members’ Motions, which recommended that the bill be reintroduced. He has now directed the Business Committee to programme it for presentation.
Mr Bagbin told the House the bill does not impose taxes or place a financial burden on the state.
He said he had reviewed the committee’s report and formed the view that the bill does not impose or alter taxation, or create a charge on the Consolidated Fund, in line with the constitutional rule under Article 108. He explained that Standing Orders require the Speaker to give such an opinion when a private member’s bill is introduced.
The Speaker recalled that the bill was first introduced in August 2021 as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2021. It went through Parliament and was passed by the Eighth Parliament on 28 February 2024.
However, he said it was not assented to by the President and therefore lapsed when the Eighth Parliament ended.
After the Ninth Parliament was inaugurated, Mr Bagbin said he forwarded the bill to the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice for review on 8 January 2025, and that the Attorney-General’s comments were received on 7 April 2025 and passed on to the sponsors.
He said the sponsors later wrote on 5 February 2025 to indicate their intention to reintroduce the bill. The listed sponsors include Samuel Nartey George, Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, Helen Ntoso, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Alhassan Tampouli Suleimana, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Mahama Tia Abdul Kabiru, and Anthony Mmieh.
Mr Bagbin said a legal opinion was submitted as required under Standing Orders, and a fiscal impact analysis was also provided under the Public Financial Management Act.
He added that after further drafting work, he asked the private members’ committees to review the bill again. According to him, the committees concluded the bill keeps its core objectives and does not breach constitutional requirements, including Articles 106 and 108.
With that advice, the Speaker said he has approved its reintroduction and instructed that it be scheduled for the House.
