Speaker Alban Bagbin Orders Parliament to Expedite Work on Reintroduced Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill
- The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has issued a strict directive to the committee handling the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025
- Addressing the House upon its resumption, Bagbin demanded that the final committee report be tabled for consideration and passage before the current meeting is adjourned
- The bill was formally reintroduced in early 2026 after the previous 2024 version successfully passed the House, but expired after it was not signed before the 8th Parliament dissolved
The fiercest and most polarised legislative debate in Ghana's modern history is racing toward a definitive climax following an uncompromising directive from the head of the legislature.
Source: Facebook
As Members of Parliament returned to the chamber for the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the 9th Parliament on May 21, 2026, Speaker Alban Bagbin made it clear that the controversial "Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill" tops the state's legislative priority list.
"Expectations of the citizenry are clear" - Speaker
Acknowledging the massive public anxiety and civil society discussions surrounding the prolonged delays in enacting the law, the Speaker noted that Parliament cannot afford to drag its feet any further.
“In view of the significance of the bill and the need to advance the legislative process, I urge the committee to present its report for consideration and passage by the House before the end of this meeting. Very important,” Speaker Bagbin stated authoritatively from his chair.
“Parliament has also taken note of the concerns recently expressed by sections of the public and various stakeholders regarding the delay in the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025. We appreciate the keen public interest in this important legislation, and acknowledge the expectations of the citizenry on the matter.”
The Speaker indicated that the designated committee has officially completed its extensive public hearings and stakeholder consultations, effectively clearing any procedural hurdles blocking the bill's second and third readings.
Watch the YouTube video below.
A new political landscape in 2026
The reintroduction of the bill under the new 9th Parliament carries a completely different political weight. While the previous version was allegedly kept in a state of indefinite executive limbo by the former administration, the current executive landscape has shifted dramatically.
President John Dramani Mahama, who assumed office in January 2025, has previously signalled his openness to human rights bills that align with local cultural frameworks, meaning that if Parliament successfully passes this 2025 draft, it faces a significantly higher chance of receiving immediate executive assent.
However, international human rights organisations and local advocacy groups like Rightify Ghana continue to wage an intense legal and diplomatic campaign against the document.
Activists argue that the bill’s provisions, which include up to three years of imprisonment for identifying as LGBT+ and criminalise advocacy or funding, severely violate constitutional protections of dignity, free expression, and privacy.
Angel Maxine's mother reacts to anti-LGBTQ bill
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Angel Maxine's mother, Rev Araba Forson, broke her silence on the Anti-LGBTQ bill.
In a video, the lady pastor stated that members of the community are born with it, not made, and thus the bill should be cancelled.
The mother's remarks have triggered massive reactions on social media, as Ghanaians have blasted her for her defence.
Source: YEN.com.gh
