Parliament Speaker Alban Bagbin mentioned he was stunned that the Human Rights and Household Values Invoice 2025, generally known as an anti-LGBTQ+ invoice, was handed by Parliament final Friday.
Speaker Bagbin informed reporters in parliament that he had left particular directions for the invoice to undergo the consideration stage in his absence below the chairmanship of First Vice Speaker Bernard Ahiafo.
Bagbin mentioned he was stunned by the sudden passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ invoice on Could 29, and mentioned he anticipated the Home of Commons to solely start contemplating it.
He then convened Congressional management to argue that such an essential invoice wanted broader settlement.
The passage has sparked notable debate over lack of quorum and procedural compliance.
Bagbin reiterated that efficient implementation of the invoice requires public acceptance and due course of, not only a vote.
Video: Anti-LGBTQ+ laws nonetheless ‘takes a very long time’ to cross — President Mahama at Chatham Home
In the meantime, President John Dramani Mahama mentioned throughout a query and reply session at Chatham Home in the UK on Monday (1 June 2025) that there have been nonetheless “some lapses” within the passage of the invoice and that the whole lot wanted to be sorted out earlier than the President might assent the invoice into regulation.
He mentioned, for instance, that there have been a number of procedural and authorized points surrounding the invoice, which wanted to be addressed first earlier than a call might be made with presidential assent.
President Mahama mentioned the Human Sexual Rights and Household Values Invoice of 2025, generally known as an anti-LGBTQ+ invoice, handed by Parliament final Friday, continues to be a good distance from changing into regulation.
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Video: Anti-LGBTQ+ invoice nonetheless ‘will take a very long time’ to cross – President Mahama at Chatham Home occasion https://t.co/x5QiwkieU3 pic.twitter.com/YWQJjTGKrM
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President Mahama mentioned the invoice was attracting wider public consideration because it affected household values and social coverage in Ghana.
“The Human Sexual Rights and Household Values Invoice might be the invoice that has garnered essentially the most consideration in Ghana. It exhibits how essential the problem of household values is,” he mentioned.
He mentioned there have been already questions on how the invoice was handed by way of Congress.
He cited issues about whether or not a quorum was current on the time of the invoice’s passage and allegations of procedural flaws within the legislative course of.
“There are a variety of points which were raised. The primary is that there was not a quorum to cross it, which has come up as a problem, and the second is that there have been procedural deficiencies in passing it,” he mentioned.
President Mahama disclosed that he had obtained info that the Speaker of Parliament had referred to issues raised relating to the method of approving the invoice.
He defined that when the invoice is formally submitted to the president, it’s going to bear a radical authorized evaluate earlier than a call is taken.
The president mentioned the invoice could be scrutinized by the legal professional basic and presidential authorized advisers as a result of it originated as a personal member’s invoice somewhat than a government-sponsored invoice.
“It needs to be submitted for consent, so as soon as the president has consent, you are not a part of the talk in Congress, so you are going to cross it. The authorized adviser within the Workplace of the President and the legal professional basic can be on it and ensure the whole lot is so as earlier than it is suggested to the president to consent,” he mentioned.
President Mahama additionally outlined different constitutional choices out there to him, together with referring the invoice to the Council of State for recommendation if issues come up.
He defined that if severe issues are recognized, the president might refer the invoice again to Congress and specify the issues that should be addressed.
“The president has another choice. If he sees one thing that may be a drawback, he can refer it to the Council of State for recommendation. If a severe concern is raised, the president will ship a invoice again to Congress that units out precisely what the problem is.”
He concluded by stressing that the legislative course of just isn’t but full.
“Subsequently, it’s going to nonetheless take a substantial period of time for this invoice to grow to be regulation,” he added.
The feedback got here days after Parliament handed the Human Rights and Household Values Invoice 2025, following amendments to the regulation.
In the meantime, Nationwide Meeting Speaker Alban Bagbin convened Home management to debate passing the invoice, arguing that consensus wanted to be constructed across the invoice to make sure broader public acceptance.
Bagbin additionally expressed shock at how the invoice was handed on Friday, amid issues from some lawmakers about procedural points surrounding the approval course of.
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