speaker of parliament Directs Reintroduction of Anti-LGBTQ Bill and Dual Citizenship Amendment
Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament Alban Bagbin
Accra, Ghana-With Parliament on the brink of reigniting two of the country's most contentious constitutional debates, Speaker Alban Bagbin has instructed the Business Committee to reintroduce the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill known to many as the anti-LGBTQ bill for renewed scrutiny.
The directive follows a review by the appropriate parliamentary processes, with the Speaker indicating that the Bill had satisfied process requirements and did not violate constitutional provisions governing private members’ legislation. According to the report presented to the House, the reintroduced Bill maintains its underlying principles and core objectives and does not contravene Articles 106 and 108 of the 1992 Constitution.
The Speaker also noted that the Bill does not seek to impose taxation or create a charge on the Consolidated Fund or other public funds, a key constitutional test under Article 108. On that basis, he directed the Business Committee to schedule it for presentation and discussion on the floor of the House.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill has previously generated intense public debate, dividing opinion across religious groups, civil society, human rights advocates, and political actors. Supporters argue the legislation seeks to protect what they describe as Ghanaian cultural and family values, while critics claim that aspects of the Bill raise constitutional and human rights issues. Its return to the legislative agenda signals that Parliament is prepared to reopen a conversation that has already drawn both domestic and international scrutiny.
Alongside the anti-LGBTQ Bill, the Speaker also indicated that the Constitution (Amendment) Bill concerning dual citizenship will be reintroduced. This proposed amendment intends to eliminate restrictions that currently bar dual citizens from holding certain public offices in Ghana, thereby opening these roles to a larger pool of qualified candidates.
Currently, the Constitution bars dual citizens from holding specified positions, including some high-level public offices. Advocates of the amendment argue that, in a globalized era, Ghana stands to benefit from the expertise, experience, and networks of its diaspora. Critics, however, have raised concerns about national loyalty, security, and constitutional safeguards.
The simultaneous reintroduction of both Bills places Parliament at the center of two deeply symbolic national debates, one touching on social values and human rights, and the other on citizenship, inclusion, and the changing nature of Ghanaian identity in a globalized world.
As the Business Committee moves to schedule the Bills, attention is likely to shift once again to the floor of Parliament, where both issues are expected to attract robust debate, intense lobbying, and renewed public engagement.
Read Also
