Majority Leader Raises Concern Over Reintroduction of Previously Passed Anti LGBTQ+ Bill
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga
Accra, Ghana — Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has raised concerns over the reintroduction of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill originally introduced by Samuel Nartey George and John Ntim Fordjour — after it appeared again on the parliamentary order paper as the House resumed sitting from recess on Tuesday.
Addressing the media in the leaders’ media briefing on Wednesday, October 22, Ayariga explained that the bill in question had already gone through all stages of consideration and approval by the previous Parliament, and therefore should not have been brought back for debate. “It was passed by Parliament already, and the issue now is simply giving it presidential assent. There is no need for it to be brought back to Parliament,” the Majority Leader stated.
Ayariga noted that the only outstanding step is for the bill to receive the President’s assent, adding that it remains valid since it was passed before the dissolution of the Eighth Parliament. He expressed surprise that the bill appeared again on the order paper, emphasizing that under Ghana’s Constitution, only bills not passed before the end of a Parliament’s tenure lapse automatically.
“If we don’t resolve the legal effect of having already passed it, it will be difficult to take it on the floor again,” he cautioned.
The Majority Leader clarified that the only new legislative item expected to generate significant attention in the current session is the Property Rights of Spouses Bill, which remains under discussion.
The bill commonly referred to as the “anti-LGBTQ+ bill” was first passed by Parliament on 28 February 2024 and awaited presidential assent before Parliament was dissolved. It would impose expanded criminal penalties for same-sex sexual activity and criminalize “promotion, sponsorship or support” of LGBTQ+ activities, with possible prison sentences of up to five years. When a group of ten MPs reintroduced the same bill on 25 February 2025, questions arose about whether the legislative process needed to start afresh and what legal status the passed version still held.
The proposed legislation has drawn strong criticism from human rights organizations both inside Ghana and internationally with Human Rights Watch warning the bill would undermine democratic principles and called for its withdrawal. The reappearance of the bill on the order paper has triggered procedural uncertainty: whether the measure will be treated as a continuation of the earlier passed version or must begin again as a new bill. That legal ambiguity is part of what Majority Leader Ayariga has flagged as needing resolution before the bill can be properly taken up on the floor.
With the Parliament now back in session, all eyes will be on whether the bill is formally introduced, debated again, and how quickly it moves especially given its contentious nature and the significant domestic and international scrutiny surrounding it.
Parliament reconvened this week after its recess to consider pending bills and policy matters, including budget preparations for the next fiscal year.
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