Speaker of Parliament Alban S.K. Bagbin has given a major assurance that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ bill, will be reconsidered and passed again before Parliament goes on recess.
According to him, he is not satisfied with some of the sentencing provisions and sanctions contained in the bill; therefore, it would be reintroduced for further consideration of three key clauses.
He also hinted that Parliament could complete the process as early as Friday, July 31, 2026, as lawmakers move to review key provisions of the controversial legislation.
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The Speaker gave the assurance on Thursday, July 30, 2026, during a visit to the National Chief Imam.
He stated, “I have gone through it, and I am not happy with the sentencing regime and the sanctions because I think it did not reflect what you conveyed to me as my fathers.”
“That is why I called for it to be reintroduced at the end so that we just tweak and refine those clauses; they are only three to make it better.”
The Speaker Alban Bagbin indicated that he had discussed the matter with President John Dramani Mahama, who, according to him, agreed with the proposed review.
“I have told His Excellency the President, and he is in total agreement with me, and so the Bill is now going through that stage again. We intend to finish it before we go on the recess at this meeting,” Alban Bagbin said.
Politicisation of Anti-LGBTQ Bill
The Speaker urged Ghanaians to reject attempts to politicise the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
He argued that the issue had broad support across religious and social groups and should not be viewed through a partisan political lens.
“There is no politics in it at all. Anybody trying to do politics just disregard that. Both Muslims and Christians agree, even the non-believers agree that this one, if we don’t pass it, then we are acting against the decree of God,” he said.
Parliament on Friday, May 29, 2026, passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, after adopting several amendments.
The revised legislation included exemptions for certain professional activities involving LGBTQ-related matters.
Under the amended bill, lawyers providing legal advice or representation to persons identified as LGBTQ would be exempt from sanctions under the proposed law.
Journalists and media organisations reporting on LGBTQ-related issues as part of their professional duties would also be exempt from punishment.
The legislation further exempts medical professionals who provide surgical, psychological or counselling services to LGBTQ persons from sanctions.
Minority calls for further review
The Minority Caucus in Parliament opposed some amendments to the anti-LGBTQ bill, arguing that the earlier version submitted to former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for assent contained significant flaws.
The Minority subsequently called for the legislation to be reconsidered to allow lawmakers to make further amendments.
Despite the objections, Parliament proceeded to pass the bill, subject to the remaining constitutional processes.
With Speaker Alban Bagbin now indicating that three key clauses will be reviewed, attention is focused on Parliament as lawmakers prepare to reconsider the legislation before the end of the current sitting.