Parliament rescinds approval of Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill

The Parliament of Ghana has rescinded its earlier decision to pass the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, moving the legislation back to a second reconsideration stage. The decision, taken on November 10, 2026, reverses the approval granted on May 29 of the same year. The resolution to halt the bill’s progress was spearheaded by Majority Leader James Agalga to allow lawmakers to address critical legal and drafting inconsistencies identified by reviewers after the initial passage.

Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Bagbin announced that legal experts discovered discrepancies between the decisions approved on the floor and the actual text of the bill. By rescinding the third reading, Parliament aims to ensure that the final version of the law is technically sound and accurately reflects the House's intent. This 2025 version of the bill was introduced by Rev. John Ntim Fordjour in the Ninth Parliament after a previous iteration, passed in 2024, failed to receive presidential assent.

The bill, often referred to as the anti-LGBTQI bill, seeks to regulate human sexual rights and promote traditional Ghanaian family values. Its legislative journey has been marked by intense national debate, drawing sharp divisions between cultural advocates and human rights critics. Some stakeholders have also raised concerns regarding the potential economic repercussions of the bill, further complicating its path through the House.

Following the necessary amendments and technical reviews, the bill will be subject to another formal vote. This procedural step is intended to resolve the identified legal gaps before the bill is once again submitted for final approval. The move highlights the Ninth Parliament's effort to balance the high-profile nature of the legislation with the rigorous requirements of the legislative process.