Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has directed parliament to revisit aspects of the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill (anti-LGBTQ bill), following concerns about inconsistencies in how the bill was approved.
The directive follows questions raised over whether the bipartisan support reflected in the committee report was clearly demonstrated during proceedings on the floor of the House.
Bagbin said the committee report that accompanied the bill indicated unanimous backing from both majority and minority members, but that consensus was not clearly reflected in the final deliberations and passage.
According to him, where a committee presents a unanimous position, that agreement must be properly reflected in the decision-making process of the House.
He stressed that legislation of such national importance must be anchored on broad support and strict adherence to parliamentary procedures.
“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,” he said.
The Speaker added that the credibility and legitimacy of any law depend not only on its objectives but also on the integrity of the process used to pass it.
The development adds a new layer of scrutiny to the controversial bill, which seeks to prohibit LGBTQ activities and advocacy in Ghana and has generated intense debate domestically and internationally.
Supporters of the bill argue that it protects Ghanaian family values, while critics have raised concerns about human rights implications.
The Speaker’s directive comes amid growing public and institutional scrutiny of the legislative process, including questions about quorum and procedural compliance during the vote.
President John Dramani Mahama has also indicated that the bill will undergo further legal and constitutional review before any decision on assent is made.
Speaking at Chatham House in London, he noted that issues including quorum concerns and procedural irregularities must be examined by legal teams at the Presidency and the Attorney-General’s office.
He added that the bill, introduced as a private member’s motion, must go through all required constitutional checks before it can be considered for assent.
Mahama also indicated that he could refer the bill to the Council of State if significant concerns persist.
In a related development, the Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has distanced himself from a social media post circulating online that appeared to criticise the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, describing the publication as unauthorised and stating that his account had been compromised.
The post, which went viral on Tuesday, appeared to show him opposing the controversial legislation, also known as the anti-LGBTQ bill.
In the now-deleted message, the account attributed to the minority leader suggested that criminalising individuals based on sexual orientation amounted to punishing people for their identity and relationships.
It further stated that such laws risked crossing a line that no parliament should endorse.
The comments triggered widespread reactions online, with users sharing screenshots amid ongoing public debate over the recently passed bill.
However, the post was later removed and replaced with a disclaimer from the minority leader, who urged the public to disregard it.
“Kindly disregard this post. Account was compromised,” the message said.
Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, on May 29, following consideration of several amendments.
The legislation seeks to criminalise LGBTQ-related activities in Ghana while providing exemptions for legal practitioners, journalists, media organisations and medical professionals acting in the course of their duties.
The bill continues to generate strong public reactions, with supporters arguing it upholds cultural and family values, while critics say it raises concerns about rights and freedoms.
