President Mahama indicates anti-LGBTQ+ bill faces procedural hurdles before becoming law
via GhanaWeb2 min read
President John Dramani Mahama has stated that Ghana's recently passed anti-LGBTQ+ bill is not close to becoming law due to procedural issues. Speaking at Chatham House, President Mahama revealed that questions have been raised regarding whether Parliament had the required quorum when the bill was passed, and other procedural lapses are also under scrutiny. He mentioned that the Speaker was preparing a statement to address these lapses. The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, was passed by Parliament for the second time on Friday, May 29, 2026. President Mahama clarified that as a private member's motion, the presidency was not involved in the parliamentary deliberations. He noted that the bill would undergo review by legal counsel at the Presidency and the Attorney General, and would also be referred to the Council of State. If significant issues are found, the bill could be returned to Parliament with specific concerns. The President emphasized that there is still a considerable process before the bill can become law. The reintroduced bill expands criminal sanctions related to same-sex conduct and includes potential three-year prison sentences for individuals identifying as LGBTQ+.
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