Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin the Speaker of Parliament has revealed that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill commonly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill is ready for its first reading in Parliament.
According to Speaker Bagbin, the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill is set to be introduced for its first reading during the second meeting of the Ninth Parliament.
Speaker Bagbin made this known during his opening remarks to mark the official commencement of Parliament’s second meeting.
He stated, “Three private members bills; The Property Rights of Spouses Bill 2025, Constitution of the Republic of Ghana Amendment Bill 2025, and the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 have completed the processes as required by the standing orders and are expected to be presented for a first reading during the course of this meeting”.
It will be recalled, that Samuel Nartey George, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation had revealed that he has already resubmitted the Private Member’s Bill on anti-LGBTQI to Parliament about four weeks ago.
He asserted that he is awaiting the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament to invite him.
According to Sam George, his position has not changed on the anti-LGBTQI bill.
ohn Dramani Mahama has revealed that the Anti-LGBTQI bill would be introduced as a state-sponsored bill in parliament.
He announced that in consultation with the Speaker of Parliament, the anti-LGBT bill be reintroduced in Parliament as a Government-sponsored bill rather than a bill sponsored by private members.
According to President Mahama, as a Christian, he upholds the values that only two genders exist man and woman and that marriage is between a man and woman.
Speaking during his fellowship with the Clergy at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on Friday, February 28, 2025, he stated, “I as a Christian, uphold the values that only two genders exist as man and woman and that the marriage is between a man and woman.
“I have spoken with the Speaker so that a renewal of the expired Proper Family Values Bill should be a bill that is introduced by the government rather than as a private member motion”, he added.
President Mahama added, “It is my hope that that consultation will see a renewed proper Family Values Bill. I believe that my leadership should be a reflection of the people that I govern and upon this, I stand firm”.
Additionally, John Mahama warned multilateral institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stay out of cultural matters like Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ debate.
According to John Mahama, Multilateral institutions should avoid getting into cultural matters because the world is diverse with different cultures.
Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg’s Next Africa, Mahama stated, “The old bill expired because it was not assented to by the President there was a legal challenge eventually the legal challenge was dismissed which means that the President count assent to it, but it has expired, the question is hypothetical.
It has to go into parliament again, I think that what we need is more stakeholder consultation to look at whatever new bill will come and make sure that we carry everybody on board”, he added.
John Mahama added, “Proper family values are something we all are interested in, we believe that is not only in the bills that we send to parliament to regulate them, but it’s also about teaching our children those family values as they grow.
I believe that Multilateral institutions should avoid getting into cultural matters. This is a diverse world. We have different cultures so I don’t think Multilateral institutions should include cultural imposition as part of their mandate, I don’t agree with that”.
He continued, “If they decide to pull well, it’s their prerogative. But I don’t believe that multilateral institutions like the World Bank and IMF should include in their mandates how people behave culturally.“
