The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has reiterated his unwavering commitment to ensuring the passage of Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ bill. Emphasizing that such practices contradict Ghanaian family values and culture, he declared, “I would rather lose my life than accept these practices.”
Speaking to traditional leaders and National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters on January 26, 2025, Speaker Bagbin criticized former President Nana Akufo-Addo for his failure to assent to the bill, describing the move as unconstitutional.
“The LGBTQ bill was passed by Parliament, but the former president failed or refused to assent to it, which was unconstitutional. There is no law allowing a president to refuse or fail to assent to a bill passed by Parliament. Parliament is the authority on passing laws, not any other person—not even the president. He was wrong, and you all punished him for that,” Bagbin asserted.
The Speaker revealed plans to collaborate with the Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to expedite the bill’s passage.
“I am going to write to the new Attorney General and Minister for Justice to seek his comments, after which we will resend the bill to the new President for his assent. This process will not take long. It will be passed this year,” he stated.
Bagbin further underscored the urgency of the bill, adding:
“This year, we’ll pass it. It is anti-God, and nobody should joke with me when it comes to this matter. I am willing to lose my life over this. It’s better not to live than to live in a society where man is with man, and woman is with woman.”
The anti-LGBTQ bill, formally known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, was unanimously approved by Parliament on February 28, 2024. It seeks to criminalize LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana, proposing jail terms of six months to three years for individuals engaged in such acts and three to five years for those who promote or sponsor them.
Meanwhile, President John Mahama has called for comprehensive stakeholder consultations to build consensus on the way forward. He suggested reintroducing the bill as a government-sponsored initiative to ensure broader support and clarity.
