Parliament has reversed its May 2026 decision to pass the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, after inconsistencies were identified between decisions taken by MPs during deliberations and the final version of the legislation.
The decision, announced by Speaker Alban Bagbin on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, gives the House an opportunity to revisit the controversial legislation and ensure that its provisions accurately reflect the resolutions adopted by members.
Bagbin explained that Parliament’s Legislation Drafting Department identified the discrepancies during its post-third-reading review of the bill.
He said the department was responsible for translating decisions taken on the floor of the House into legislative provisions but could not independently alter decisions already adopted by MPs.
“After the third reading, there is a department here we refer to as the Legislation Drafting Department. They are the drafters who draft all what we do here, the decisions we take,” Mr Bagbin told the House.
He said the drafting team could correct minor errors but had to return the document to Parliament where the discrepancies involved decisions formally taken by the House.
“The draft people could put them right. But once there are decisions, they cannot tamper with the decision of the House. It has to be brought back for the House to do the proper thing,” he said.
The Speaker subsequently put the question before MPs, asking them to vote on whether the House should rescind its earlier resolution.
“Those in favour, say aye. Those against, say no,” he said.
Following the voice vote, Bagbin confirmed that the House had approved the rescission.
“Honourable members, the ayes have it. The House has accordingly rescinded its earlier decision, which was taken on Friday, May 29, 2026, in respect of the third reading of the Human, Sexual Rights, and Family Values Bill 2025,” he declared.
The move effectively reopens the legislative process, allowing MPs to revisit the provisions and address the identified inconsistencies before the bill can proceed through the required parliamentary stages.
The legislation, popularly known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, originated as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021. It was introduced in the Eighth Parliament in 2021 and passed on February 28, 2024.
However, the bill did not receive presidential assent before the Eighth Parliament ended in January 2025, resulting in its lapse.
It was subsequently reintroduced in the Ninth Parliament as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, before MPs passed it again on May 29, 2026.
The proposed legislation seeks to prohibit LGBTQ+ activities and strengthen restrictions on the promotion, sponsorship and funding of such activities. The revised version also included exemptions for certain professional activities, including legal representation, journalism and medical services.
The latest parliamentary decision means the bill must undergo further consideration to resolve the discrepancies identified in its final draft before the legislative process can be completed.
