Anti-LGBTQ bill: ‘There’s nothing to reconsider’ – Majority Leader reacts to Speaker’s request

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has strongly defended Parliament’s passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, insisting that the legislation was validly approved and cannot be reversed by the Speaker of Parliament.

His comments come after Alban Bagbin directed Parliament to revisit the controversial anti-LGBTQ bill, citing concerns about whether the legislative process properly reflected the bipartisan support outlined in the committee report.

Speaker Bagbin revealed that he had expected Parliament to begin consideration of the bill on Friday, May 29, but was surprised to learn that all stages of the legislative process had been completed and the bill passed on the same day.

However, speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, June 2, Ayariga maintained that Parliament fully complied with its Standing Orders and constitutional procedures throughout the process.

According to the Majority Leader, there is no basis for Parliament to reconsider the bill since the House had already taken a valid decision.

“My view is that there's really nothing to consider. We promised Ghanaians that we will pass a law prohibiting LGBTQ. We will pass a law prohibiting the promotion of LGBTQ. We will pass a law that does not allow us to recognize marriage by people of the same gender. We will pass a law punishing people who are luring children into the practice and also punish those who are financing and sponsoring their promotion,” he stated.

Ayariga explained that concerns regarding the mandatory 24-hour interval between stages of a bill were addressed through a procedural motion to abridge time, a parliamentary mechanism commonly used to accelerate legislative business.

He said the motion was properly moved and approved by the First Deputy Speaker, enabling Parliament to proceed with the third consideration stage and eventual passage of the bill.

The disagreement between the Speaker and the Majority Leader introduces a fresh layer of uncertainty to the future of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, which remains one of the most debated pieces of legislation in Ghana's recent history.

While Parliament has approved the bill, it must still undergo additional constitutional and legal processes before it can become law. The legislation is expected to be reviewed by the Presidency and legal advisers before being presented to President John Dramani Mahama for possible assent.

The latest developments highlight growing debate over both the substance of the bill and the procedures used in its passage, with questions now emerging about the respective powers of Parliament's leadership in managing and validating legislative decisions.