The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has instructed the Business Committee to prioritise the anti-LGBT bill for consideration.
His directive comes after a Financial Impact Analysis report revealed that the bill does not contravene the constitutional requirement of not imposing a financial burden on the consolidated fund.
The Speaker, in a formal communication to Parliament on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Bagbin, stated that the anti-LGBT bill meets the relevant provisions for it to be laid before the House.
The Speaker said, “I therefore direct that the bill be scheduled by the Business Committee to be presented to the House for consideration,” Speaker Bagbin announced on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, February 10.
According to him, Standing Order 187(2) obliges the Speaker to communicate to the House his opinion on whether a private member’s bill complies with Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution.
“On the introduction of a private member’s bill, the Speaker shall communicate to the House an opinion on whether the bill complies with Article 108 of the Constitution,” he stated.
He added, “By correspondence dated 25th February 2025, the following members indicated their desire to reintroduce the bill.”
He listed 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.
In accordance with Standing Order 182, a legal opinion dated March 7, 2025, and a fiscal impact analysis under Section 101(1) of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), were submitted to the Speaker.
The bill was then reviewed by the Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Private Members’ Motions, which unanimously advised that it could be introduced in the House.
“The committee observed that the bill maintains its underlying principles and core objectives and does not contravene any constitutional provision, particularly Articles 106 and 108 of the Constitution,” he said.
“It also does not impose taxation or a charge on the Consolidated Fund or any other public funds of Ghana.”
“I have reviewed the report of the committee and formed the opinion that the bill does not impose or alter taxation or a charge on the Consolidated Fund in the manner stipulated under Article 108 of the Constitution,” he concluded.
Background About the Bill
Parliament passed the bill in February 2024, but former President Nana Akufo-Addo refused to sign it, citing pending Supreme Court challenges concerning its constitutionality and fiscal implications.
The Ministry of Finance cautioned that the bill’s enactment would jeopardise billions in World Bank funding.
After the 2024 elections, the bill was reintroduced in March 2025.
President John Mahama has expressed support for the bill’s objectives, despite ongoing legal debates regarding alleged human rights violations.
The bill proposes penalties for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies, including 3-5 years in prison for identifying as LGBTQ+, 5-10 years for promoting LGBTQ+ activities, and bans on public displays of affection, LGBTQ+ associations, gender-reassignment surgery, and teaching about more than two genders.
President Mahama Ready to Sign the Bill
Recently, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga reiterated that President John Dramani Mahama will swiftly endorse the anti-LGBTQ+ bill upon parliamentary approval, thereby dispelling claims of governmental delay.
Addressing concerns raised by the Minority Caucus on the floor of Parliament on Friday, February 6, 2026, Ayariga dismissed claims that the government is intentionally delaying the controversial legislation. He clarified that the President remains fully committed to signing the bill into law.
The Majority Leader revealed that the government had initially offered to adopt the legislation as a government-sponsored bill.
However, the original sponsors have opted to maintain its status as a private members’ bill.
He noted that because the sponsors rejected the government’s request to take ownership of the bill, the executive branch has stepped back to allow the parliamentary process to take its course.
“I think the ‘Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill’ is a Private Members’ Bill. I think when a member introduces a private members’ bill, the duty is for you to engage with the Office of the Speaker and, if there are issues, iron out those issues. The bill was passed. What was outstanding was for the former president to sign, and the former president [did not] sign. It came back, and the government says that we are willing to take it and own it as a government bill. But again, that was rejected. The private members want to own it.”
He added, “President Mahama has indicated that he is waiting 24/7; if the bill is ready, he will sign it.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
