Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has assured Ghanaians that Parliament will handle the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 through a process aimed at achieving national consensus rather than imposing legislation on citizens.
Addressing Parliament at the opening of the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament on Thursday, the Speaker acknowledged the intense public interest surrounding the bill and urged the committee responsible for the legislation to submit its report before the end of the current meeting.
“We don’t decree laws, we pass laws that are acceptable by our people,” Mr Bagbin stated.
The Speaker stressed that Parliament was determined to ensure the bill was handled in a manner that was “just, pragmatic and consensual,” noting that the relevant committee had already conducted public hearings and stakeholder consultations.
He appealed to activists and advocacy groups to appreciate Parliament’s responsibility to build broad agreement on sensitive national issues instead of rushing legislation through the House.
According to him, the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 forms part of several major reintroduced bills Parliament intends to process quickly and transparently during the current sitting.
Other key bills include the Constitution of the Government Bill, the Parliamentary Transition Bill and the Parliament Bill.
Mr Bagbin also announced that Ghana’s Parliament would host the maiden African Family Values and Sovereignty Conference from June 3 to June 5, 2026.
He described the conference as the first continental gathering of its kind hosted by an African Parliament, aimed at promoting and preserving African cultural identity, values and sovereignty.
The Speaker disclosed that John Dramani Mahama was expected to attend the opening ceremony and encouraged Members of Parliament to actively participate in the event.
Beyond the anti-LGBTQ bill debate, Mr Bagbin also used the session to clarify legal procedures surrounding the arrest or invitation of Members of Parliament by security agencies.
He explained that although security agencies did not require the Speaker’s permission before arresting or inviting an MP, they were obligated to inform him about the allegations and circumstances involved.
“My role is to determine, based on the law, whether parliamentary privilege applies,” he said.
The Speaker further called on MPs to maintain civility in debates and demonstrate discipline, punctuality and commitment as Parliament prepared to handle an extensive legislative agenda during the meeting.
Parliament resumed sitting on Thursday after adjournment on March 27 for the Easter break.
