The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, often known as the Anti-LGBTQ Bill, has been placed on the Business Committee’s agenda for consideration by the House by Alban Sumana Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament. The Speaker’s finding that the measure satisfies all procedural and constitutional conditions for reintroduction under Parliament’s Standing Orders is what prompted the order.
On the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, February 10, Speaker Bagbin declared, “I therefore direct that the bill be scheduled by the Business Committee to be presented to the House for consideration.” The Speaker is required by Standing Order 187(2) to inform the House of his judgement on whether a private member’s bill complies with Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution, he stated.
“The Speaker shall communicate to the House an opinion on whether the bill complies with Article 108 of the Constitution upon the introduction of a private member’s bill,” he said.
The Speaker reminded the house that the bill, initially titled the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2021, was first presented in August 2021 and approved by the Eighth Parliament on February 28, 2024. Nevertheless, it expired with the dissolution of that Parliament because it did not have presidential approval. He pointed out, though, that the President did not agree with it, and as a result, it expired when the Eighth Parliament was dissolved.
On January 28, 2025, after the Ninth Parliament was inaugurated, Speaker Bagbin submitted the bill to the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Justice for consideration. On April 7, 2025, the Attorney-General’s Office sent its observations to the bill’s sponsors.
Later, nine Members of Parliament said they would reintroduce the bill. According to a letter dated February 25, 2025, the following members expressed their wish to bring the bill back: Sam Nartey George, Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Helen Ntoso, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Mahama Tiah Abdul-Kabiru, and Anthony Mmieh.
A fiscal impact study pursuant to Section 101(1) of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), a legal opinion dated March 7, 2025, and a legal opinion dated March 7, 2025, were all presented to the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order 182. The Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Private Members’ Motions examined the measure and unanimously recommended that it be brought before the House.
“The committee noted that the bill does not violate any constitutional provision, especially Articles 106 and 108 of the Constitution, and that it upholds its basic tenets and core goals,” he stated. “It also does not levy taxes or fees on the Consolidated Fund or any other of Ghana’s public funds.”
The Speaker determined that the legislation is in complete compliance with the Constitution and Parliamentary Standing Orders after examining the committee’s report.“Having analysed the committee’s report, I am of the opinion that the bill does not impose or change taxation or a charge on the Consolidated Fund in the way that Article 108 of the Constitution mandates,” he informed the House.
Source: myjoyonline.com
