The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has issued a firm directive to the parliamentary committee responsible for the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 to submit its report without delay for immediate consideration and possible approval before the current parliamentary meeting concludes.
Speaking on the floor of the House when Parliament resumed proceedings on Thursday, May 21, he emphasized that the proposed legislation remains of profound national importance and must be advanced through the final stages of the law making process without further postponement. He underscored the urgency of the matter, insisting that the committee complete its work and present its findings to the House for debate and decision before the session ends.
The legislation, formally known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 and widely referred to in public discourse as the anti LGBTQ plus bill, has generated sustained national attention and intense public debate over recent years. It continues to divide opinion, with strong backing from many religious bodies and traditional leadership structures on one side, while attracting sustained criticism from human rights advocates and certain international organisations on the other.
The Speaker acknowledged the rising public concern over the pace of parliamentary progress on the bill. He noted that Parliament is fully aware of the expectations of citizens and the broader national conversation surrounding the legislation, stressing that these concerns have been duly taken into account.
He further indicated that the committee tasked with examining the bill has already completed its public consultations and engagements with key stakeholders, thereby clearing the path for the next procedural stage within Parliament.
These comments reaffirm earlier assurances that the current Parliament remains committed to concluding work on the bill after a previous version failed to become law following the decision of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo not to grant assent before the dissolution of the previous Parliament.
Speaker Bagbin has consistently maintained that Parliament remains determined to conclude the legislative process, arguing that the bill reflects deeply held cultural values and widely shared expectations among many citizens across the country.
