BAGBIN: ANTI-LGBTQ+ BILL SET TO BE TABLED FOR FIRST READING IN PARLIAMENT

Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, has officially announced that the controversial anti-LGBTQ+ legislation—formally titled the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill—is now prepared to undergo its first reading in the legislative chamber.

This development marks a renewed push to pass the bill after its initial passage in 2024 was stalled. Although Parliament passed the bill in February 2024, it did not receive presidential assent before the end of the parliamentary session, causing it to lapse under the country’s legislative rules.

The reintroduced bill was brought forward by a coalition of ten Members of Parliament as a private member’s bill. As such, it must go through the legislative process from the beginning, starting with the first reading.

Speaker Bagbin emphasized that Parliament remains committed to advancing the bill, which has garnered widespread support among religious groups, traditional leaders, and a section of the Ghanaian public. However, the legislation has also sparked widespread international concern. Critics—including the United Nations, Amnesty International, and the U.S. State Department—have warned that the bill infringes on fundamental human rights and could harm Ghana’s global standing, public health policies, and development partnerships.

The bill proposes severe penalties for a range of LGBTQ+-related activities, including:

• Up to three years’ imprisonment for individuals engaging in same-sex relationships.
• Five to ten years’ imprisonment for those promoting or advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.
• Prohibitions on cross-dressing, transgender medical care, and public displays of same-sex affection.
• Sanctions on organizations and individuals that support LGBTQ+ groups or campaigns.

Despite international opposition, Speaker Bagbin and several MPs have defended the bill as a reflection of Ghanaian cultural and moral values. Bagbin reiterated that Parliament has the sovereign right to pass laws that reflect the beliefs and will of the people of Ghana.

The first reading will mark the formal introduction of the bill into Parliament. It will then proceed through committee review, debates, and multiple readings before a final vote.