Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill still has 'quite a while to go' before becoming law โ President Mahama at Chatham House
๐ Ghana โข by pablotawiah2021 โข Jun 02, 2026
President John Dramani Mahama stated during a Chatham House event in the UK that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, faces a lengthy process before it can officially take effect. Despite being passed by Parliament, President Mahama noted that several procedural and legal "lapses" must be resolved before the bill can receive presidential assent.
Key Legislative & Procedural Concerns
The legislation has garnered immense public interest due to its impact on social policy and family values in Ghana. However, its recent passage has been clouded by immediate operational issues:
Lack of Quorum: Questions have been raised regarding whether Parliament met the necessary quorum requirements at the exact time the bill was passed.
Procedural Flaws: Allegations of structural lapses during the voting process have emerged.
Speaker's Intervention: Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has expressed surprise at the manner of the bill's passage and has summoned house leadership to build a broader consensus around the text.
The Executive Review Process
Because the legislation originated as a private member's bill rather than being sponsored by the executive government, it must undergo a more rigorous verification pipeline once formally transmitted to the Presidency:
Legal Scrutiny: The Attorney General alongside internal legal counsel at the Presidency will thoroughly review the bill to ensure total constitutional compliance before advising the President.
Council of State Referral: If executive concerns persist, the President maintains the constitutional right to refer the document to the Council of State for formal advice.
Parliamentary Return: If substantial faults are identified during review, the President can return the bill directly to Parliament with explicit instructions detailing the required corrections
Key Legislative & Procedural Concerns
The legislation has garnered immense public interest due to its impact on social policy and family values in Ghana. However, its recent passage has been clouded by immediate operational issues:
Lack of Quorum: Questions have been raised regarding whether Parliament met the necessary quorum requirements at the exact time the bill was passed.
Procedural Flaws: Allegations of structural lapses during the voting process have emerged.
Speaker's Intervention: Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has expressed surprise at the manner of the bill's passage and has summoned house leadership to build a broader consensus around the text.
The Executive Review Process
Because the legislation originated as a private member's bill rather than being sponsored by the executive government, it must undergo a more rigorous verification pipeline once formally transmitted to the Presidency:
Legal Scrutiny: The Attorney General alongside internal legal counsel at the Presidency will thoroughly review the bill to ensure total constitutional compliance before advising the President.
Council of State Referral: If executive concerns persist, the President maintains the constitutional right to refer the document to the Council of State for formal advice.
Parliamentary Return: If substantial faults are identified during review, the President can return the bill directly to Parliament with explicit instructions detailing the required corrections
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