Parliament Begins Stakeholder Talks on Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill
Committee engages key actors as debate over controversial legislation resurfaces
Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee is set to begin a two-day stakeholder engagement on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, widely known as the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
The sessions, scheduled for April 22 at the Fiesta Royale Hotel, will bring together key stakeholders to provide input to guide the Committee’s consideration of the proposed legislation.
The engagement comes amid renewed national debate following comments by John Dramani Mahama suggesting the Bill is not an immediate priority, sparking discussions over delays in its passage.
The Bill seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender practices.
It was first introduced as a Private Member’s Bill and was unanimously passed by Parliament on February 28, 2024, after its third reading. However, it failed to become law after former President Nana Akufo-Addo declined to grant presidential assent, citing legal concerns.
Following the dissolution of Parliament ahead of the 2024 general elections, the Bill lapsed despite its earlier approval.
It was reintroduced in March 2025 by a group of lawmakers, including Sam Nartey George and John Ntim Fordjour, effectively restarting the legislative process.
The ongoing consultations are expected to shape the next phase of parliamentary deliberations on the Bill.
