By Godwill Arthur-Mensh
Accra, June 02, GNA – Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has underscored the need for Members of Parliament to uphold the honour, dignity, and sanctity of Parliament, as he called for revisit of the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025.
Speaker Bagbin urged Parliament to revisit the bill and repass it in a manner that reflects bipartisan cooperation, consensus-building, and fidelity to the Constitution.
He clarified that such a move would not be an abandonment of the bill but rather a reaffirmation of Parliament’s commitment to due process and legislative certainty.
Delivering a formal communication on the floor of the House on Tuesday, Mr Bagbin noted that the bill, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ bill, was passed on Friday, May 29, 2026, without full compliance with Standing Orders 170, 171, and 172.
He commended Ghanaians for the broad support given to traditional, religious, and civil society leaders in introducing a comprehensive law to address the changing dynamics of human sexual rights and family values.
He also praised the bipartisan sponsors of the bill and the committee that considered it.
The Speaker, however, expressed concern that the final stages of the bill’s passage did not reflect the procedural safeguards required by the Standing Orders.
He cited Order 170(2) and (3), which mandate that amendments agreed upon during consideration be accurately incorporated and made available to Members before the third reading, as well as Order 172(1), which requires at least one sitting day to elapse before a third reading.
Speaker Bagbin stressed that while Parliament has the power to suspend Standing Orders, it did not do so in this case.
He warned that the absence of procedural compliance undermines confidence in the legislative process and risks legal and constitutional challenges.
He said: “The legitimacy, credibility, and enduring authority of any law depend not only on the objective sought to be achieved, but also on the integrity of the process by which that law is enacted.
“Procedural law is as equally important as substantive law.”
He emphasized that the bill, given its profound national and global implications, should command not just numerical majority support but also broad bipartisan confidence.
“What is right must be done rightly,” he added.
Speaker Bagbin urged Parliament to revisit the bill and repass it in a manner that reflects bipartisan cooperation, consensus-building, and fidelity to the Constitution.
He clarified that such a move would not be an abandonment of the bill but rather a reaffirmation of Parliament’s commitment to due process and legislative certainty.
“I remain confident that Honourable Members will approach this matter with wisdom, patriotism, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to the integrity of our parliamentary democracy and the dignity of this House,” the Speaker added.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Godwill Arthur-Mensah
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