James Agalga confirms revised LGBTQ bill to reach President Mahama in November

Majority Leader James Agalga has confirmed that the revised anti-LGBTQ bill will be transmitted to President John Dramani Mahama for his assent by the end of November 2026. This announcement comes as Parliament works to address technical inconsistencies identified in the legislation after its third reading. Agalga emphasized that the House is currently focused on correcting errors within the bill's penalty provisions to ensure the law is legally robust and ready for proper implementation.

The corrections specifically target discrepancies in the calculation of penalty units and the alignment of the bill with existing Ghanaian laws. According to Agalga, these adjustments are necessary to prevent future legal complications that could hinder the enforcement of the law. He clarified that the revision process, initiated following a directive from Speaker Alban Bagbin, focuses purely on procedural and technical defects rather than altering the core substance of the legislation.

Addressing public speculation, the Majority Leader dismissed claims that President Mahama had shifted his stance on the controversial bill. He maintained that the delay in submitting the legislation to the Presidency was strictly due to the requirement for parliamentary precision and consensus on implementation. Agalga reiterated that once these technical hurdles are cleared, the legislative process will proceed swiftly to its conclusion.

The bill, which has sparked intense national debate and international attention, was previously passed by Parliament in February 2024 but did not receive presidential assent at that time. With the current parliamentary session focusing on these final corrections, the leadership of the House aims to deliver a final version that satisfies both procedural requirements and the expectations of the Ghanaian public.