The Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli, has urged lawmakers to pass the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2021 (anti-LGBTQ Bill) without further delay or substantial amendments.
According to the Gushegu MP, the bill has already undergone extensive scrutiny and consultation during the 8th Parliament, and any attempt to reopen its provisions risks undermining the will of the Ghanaian people.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement organized by the committee on Thursday, Mr. Tampuli stressed that the legislation had received broad public backing and reflected widely held cultural and moral values.
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“This bill has been through rigorous processes. It was subjected to public input, debates, and careful consideration before it was passed,” he stated. “We should not unnecessarily delay its passage by reopening issues that have already been settled.”
His comments come amid renewed discussions by the 9th Parliament to review the bill following former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision not to assent to it before leaving office.
While some members of the committee, including Chairman Shaibu Mahama, have described the delay as an opportunity to refine the bill and ensure alignment with constitutional rights, Mr. Tampuli insists that such a move could stall progress.
He cautioned that prolonged deliberations may create uncertainty and weaken the intent of the legislation, which he said was designed to uphold what its proponents describe as Ghanaian family values.
“The people of Ghana have made their position clear through the processes this bill has gone through. Parliament must act decisively and pass it in its current form,” he added.
Background
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2021, is one of the most controversial pieces of legislation in Ghana’s recent history. Introduced as a private members’ bill, it seeks to criminalize LGBTQ+ activities, advocacy, and related forms of support, while promoting traditional family structures.
The bill was passed by the 8th Parliament after months of intense national debate, drawing strong support from religious bodies and sections of the public. However, it also faced significant opposition from civil society organizations and human rights advocates, both locally and internationally, who raised concerns about its implications for fundamental freedoms.
Despite its passage, former President Akufo-Addo declined to assent to the bill, citing pending legal challenges and constitutional concerns. This decision effectively halted its enactment and placed the responsibility on the current Parliament to determine its fate.
With the 9th Parliament now revisiting the bill, divisions are emerging within the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee over whether to amend the legislation or pass it in its original form.
As stakeholder consultations continue, the debate is expected to intensify, with lawmakers weighing public sentiment against constitutional obligations and international commitments before taking a final decision.