DistantNews
Support us
🇬🇭 Ghana /Elections & Politics

Ghana's Parliament to reconsider anti-LGBTQ Bill amid consensus concerns

From Daily Graphic · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Ghana's Parliament Speaker Alban Bagbin has ordered a reconsideration of the anti-LGBTQ Bill.
  • Concerns were raised about the lack of clear bipartisan consensus during the bill's passage, despite committee reports indicating unanimous support.
  • Bagbin stressed the importance of broad parliamentary support and procedural integrity for legislation of significant national importance.

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has directed the House to revisit the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ bill. This decision follows concerns that the level of bipartisan support indicated in the committee report was not adequately reflected during the bill's proceedings on the floor of Parliament.

Neither did the proceedings of that day convey the unanimity, nor bipartisan understanding upon which the bill was initially promoted and deliberated upon.

— Alban BagbinThe Speaker of Parliament explains his concern regarding the discrepancy between committee reports and floor proceedings on the anti-LGBTQ bill.

Bagbin expressed surprise that the bill had been fully passed on Friday, May 29, 2026, as he had expected deliberations to only reach the consideration stage. He noted that the committee report suggested unanimous support from both Majority and Minority members, a consensus that appeared absent during the actual vote.

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.

— Alban BagbinSpeaker Bagbin elaborates on the principles guiding his directive to reconsider the anti-LGBTQ bill.

"Neither did the proceedings of that day convey the unanimity, nor bipartisan understanding upon which the bill was initially promoted and deliberated upon," Bagbin stated. He emphasized that for legislation of such profound national importance, the process must demonstrate broad parliamentary backing and adherence to constitutional procedures. The Speaker believes the legitimacy and credibility of any law depend on the integrity of its enactment process.

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.

— Alban BagbinThe Speaker emphasizes the importance of a sound legislative process for the validity of laws.

"What is right must be done rightly," Bagbin asserted, underscoring his concern that laws of this magnitude should command not only majority support but also the broad confidence of the House regarding both their substance and the manner of their adoption. The directive aims to ensure that the bipartisan consensus, as captured in the committee report, is properly demonstrated and reflected in the legislative outcome.

What is right must be done rightly.

— Alban BagbinThe Speaker of Parliament succinctly states his principle regarding the proper execution of legislative duties.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Graphic in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog