Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has reiterated his determination to see the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill—also referred to as the Anti-LGBTQ Bill—pass into law by 2025.
Bagbin emphasized his commitment to preserving Ghanaian culture and moral values in an address to traditional leaders and National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters on January 26.
He expressed his readiness to make personal sacrifices, stating, “I can lose my life for this cause.”
Bagbin disclosed that he intends to formally ask the Attorney General and Minister of Justice for advice on how to proceed with the bill.
The proposed law had previously been approved by Parliament but had not been ratified by the president; it expired with the 8th Parliament in 2024.
“The LGBTQ bill was passed by Parliament, but the former president refused to assent to it, which was unconstitutional. Parliament is the authority for passing laws, not the president. That decision was wrong, and all of you punished him for that,” Bagbin remarked, referencing the actions of the previous administration.
Bagbin further clarified his next steps, saying, “I am going to write to the new Attorney General and Minister for Justice for his comments so we can resend it to the new president for assent. This will not take time it will be passed this year. It is ungodly, and nobody should joke with me on this. I can lose my life for this cause.”
He promised the crowd that this year the bill will be approved by the president. “This won’t take long. This year, it will be passed. No one should make fun of me for this, Bagbin said, because it is ungodly.
Advocates claim that the Anti-LGBTQ Bill preserves Ghana’s moral and cultural norms, making it a major topic of national discussion. Critics have expressed worries, meanwhile, regarding consequences for human rights and how Ghana’s legislative orientation is viewed internationally.
Public debate has been revived by Bagbin’s remarks, and many interested parties are eager to see more developments on this divisive topic.
Source: Citinewsroom