Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has reaffirmed that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, widely referred to as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, will be passed when Parliament reconvenes.
He gave the assurance at the Kasoa Traditional Leaders and Stakeholders Forum, where community leaders, residents, and government officials gathered to discuss development issues affecting the municipality.
According to the Speaker, the delay in assenting to the bill stemmed from former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision not to sign it into law after the previous Parliament passed it.
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Mr. Bagbin emphasised that the legislation was the outcome of extensive public consultations and reflects the views of many Ghanaians, including traditional authorities.
“Parliament remains committed to ensuring that the laws we pass reflect the will of the people,” he stated, adding that the current composition of the House strengthens its ability to pass the bill when reintroduced.
He indicated that once Parliament resumes sitting, the bill will be reconsidered, signalling renewed momentum behind one of Ghana’s most debated legislative proposals.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, a Private Members’ Bill, was previously passed by Parliament but stalled due to legal and executive challenges. Parliamentary leadership maintains that the bill reflects grassroots sentiment and aims to reinforce Ghanaian cultural and family values.
However, its reintroduction is expected to reignite intense debate both within Parliament and across the country.
Meanwhile, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, John Ntim Fordjour, who also serves as Member of Parliament for Assin South and a sponsor of the bill, has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of deliberately frustrating efforts to reintroduce the legislation.
He called on the NDC to apologise to key religious and traditional institutions, including the Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches (GPCC), the Office of the Chief Imam, and traditional rulers, over what he described as “double standards” and a shift in position since assuming power.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour urged clergy, civil society organisations, and traditional authorities to sustain pressure on the government to ensure the bill is passed.
“Ghanaians expect the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill to be passed urgently by Parliament at the earliest resumption,” he stated.
He also accused the NDC of “weaponising” the bill for political gain while in opposition, noting that the party had previously projected strong support for the legislation.
According to him, then-candidate John Dramani Mahama had pledged during the 2024 election campaign to assent to the bill, but the narrative appears to have shifted since the party assumed power in 2025.
“We will not allow the NDC to play politics with our sensitive cultural and religious heritage. We will continue to hold this government accountable and ensure that the will of the Ghanaian people is not sacrificed,” he stressed.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill seeks to regulate issues relating to sexual orientation and family values. It has attracted strong backing from religious and traditional groups, while also drawing criticism from civil society organisations and international partners over concerns about rights and freedoms.
With Parliament expected to reconvene soon, the bill is set to return to the legislative agenda, potentially triggering renewed national and international scrutiny.