The Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament is set to begin a two-day stakeholder engagement on Thursday, April 22, regarding the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, commonly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill. The sessions will be held at the Fiesta Royale Hotel and will bring together key stakeholders to provide input that will guide the Committee’s consideration of the proposed legislation as part of Parliament’s ongoing review process.
This engagement follows a renewed national debate over the Bill, sparked by remarks from John Dramani Mahama, who indicated that the Bill is not currently a priority. His comments have ignited discussions about the delays in the Bill’s passage. The Bill seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender practices.
The proposal was initially introduced as a Private Member’s Bill and received unanimous approval from Parliament on February 28, 2024, after its third reading. This marked a significant milestone in its legislative journey; however, it still required presidential assent to become law. Then-President Nana Akufo-Addo declined to sign the bill, citing legal concerns.
Following the dissolution of Parliament before the 2024 general elections, the bill lapsed and did not become law despite having been approved. In March 2025, a group of Members of Parliament, including Sam Nartey George, John Ntim Fordjour, and eight others, reintroduced the bill, effectively restarting the legislative process.
Source: Nii Ayikwei Okine
