Majority Leader Ayariga defends anti-LGBTQ bill passage against Speaker Bagbin's concerns
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has defended Parliament's passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, stating that the process complied with parliamentary procedures and does not need to be revisited. This follows concerns raised by Speaker Alban Bagbin, who directed Parliament to revisit the bill, questioning aspects of its passage on May 29, 2026. Speaking on Joy FM's Top Story on June 2, 2026, Ayariga maintained the bill was validly passed and dismissed suggestions of procedural irregularities. He explained that a motion to abridge time addressed concerns about the required 24-hour interval between stages of consideration, which he said was approved by the First Deputy Speaker. Speaker Bagbin had argued that the bipartisan support reflected in the committee report was not clearly demonstrated during floor proceedings, stating that the legitimacy of such significant legislation depends on broad parliamentary consensus and strict adherence to procedures. The disagreement contributes to the ongoing debate over the bill, which still requires additional constitutional processes to become law.
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Must ReadThe Ghana High Commission in South Africa has announced plans to evacuate 680 Ghanaian citizens on June 6 and June 7, 2026. The repatriation will occur over two days, with 340 individuals departing on Saturday and another 340 on Sunday. Evacuees are instructed to report to the High Commission the evening before their scheduled departure, bringing all necessary travel documents for themselves and any accompanying children. Each traveler is permitted two checked bags, each weighing a maximum of 23kg, with overweight luggage not being accepted. Parents or guardians traveling with children must also provide consent letters if applicable, Road-to-Health Cards, and child weighing cards.
BreakingThe US military has conducted "self-defense" strikes on Iran, shooting down ballistic missiles and drones aimed at ships and Gulf countries. US Central Command Centcom stated that strikes on Qeshm Island were a response to attempted attacks by Iran across the Middle East. Centcom also reported striking and disabling an unladen oil tanker sailing towards Iran as part of a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps IRGC claimed to have attacked US bases and helicopters in a regional country using missiles and drones, which Iranian state media reported was a response to a US strike on a communications tower south of Qeshm Island. Centcom further noted that Iran fired two missiles at Kuwait, which fell short, and three at Bahrain, which were intercepted. The strike on Qeshm Island targeted an Iranian military ground control station, and the US military also shot down three attack drones launched by Iran towards "civilian mariners." The IRGC warned that "disrupting the security of the Strait of Hormuz will carry a heavy price for the aggressive US military." The US military began enforcing its blockade of vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13, disabling six commercial vessels and redirecting 122 others. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before Congress that US negotiators have not offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for re-opening the strait, stating that any sanctions relief is condition-based and tied to Iran's nucl
Must ReadSamuel Abu Jinapor, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, has accused the government of prioritizing public relations over the urgent evacuation of Ghanaians stranded in South Africa. The Damongo MP urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to focus on the nearly 1,500 Ghanaians registered for evacuation, rather than the publicity surrounding the first batch of returnees. Jinapor questioned the reported suspension of registration for stranded nationals and demanded answers from the Foreign Affairs Minister regarding logistical challenges and the timeline for resuming registrations. He also pressed the government to explain measures being taken to protect Ghanaians still in South Africa. Jinapor compared the current situation to past large-scale evacuations during the Liberian and Sierra Leonean civil wars, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, stating that Ghana has the capacity for a more robust effort. He emphasized that success should be measured by the number of citizens safely returned, not by publicity, and called for focus on the "substantive work" of bringing relief to those still stranded.
The Black Stars, Ghana's senior men's football national team, played to a 1-1 draw against Wales in a pre-World Cup friendly on June 2, 2026, at the Cardiff City Stadium. The first half ended goalless, with Wales creating several chances, and goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi making key saves for Ghana. Caleb Yirenkyi, a substitute, scored for the Black Stars in the 67th minute after Ernest Nuamah's shot was saved. Wales equalized in the 93rd minute with a diving header from substitute Luis Koumas. The Black Stars will play Jamaica in their final friendly before beginning their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. Ghana's World Cup journey starts on June 17, 2026, against Panama in Toronto, Canada, followed by matches against England on June 23 in Boston, United States, and Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.