Parliament Passes Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill Amid Minority Protest

Parliament has passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025—widely known as the anti‑LGBTQ+ bill—despite fierce resistance from the Minority Caucus, who threatened to withdraw the bill ahead of its approval on Friday, May 29, 2026.

The Private Members’ Bill seeks to define human sexual rights, reinforce Ghanaian family values, and explicitly prohibit LGBTQ+ activities, including advocacy, promotion and funding. It aligns with Ghana’s cultural, religious and traditional norms, according to its sponsors.

The bill was first introduced on July 24, 2025, by Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, MP for Assin South, on behalf of a bipartisan group of MPs including Samuel Nartey George, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, Helen Adwoa Ntoso, Nurudeen Muhammed Mummuni, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Abdul‑Karibu Tiah Mahama and Anthony Mmieh. It was subsequently referred to the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs.

Why the Bill Was Introduced

Sponsors argued that the bill reflects a unified national stance to protect Ghana’s moral and cultural fabric. They maintained that Ghanaian family values recognise marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and that globalisation has exerted pressure on the country to accept practices inconsistent with these norms.

Minority’s Objection: “Smuggled Exemptions”

Before passage, the Minority raised strong objections, accusing the Majority of introducing unapproved amendments that exempted certain professionals and institutions—such as doctors, journalists, civil society organisations and lawyers—from liability under the bill.

They argued that these exemptions were not part of the committee’s original work and accused the Majority of bowing to pressure from foreign interests seeking to shield specific groups.

The Minority insisted that lawful professional duties were already protected under existing constitutional provisions, making the new exemptions unnecessary and suspicious.

Majority’s Response: “The Bill Is Not Watered Down”

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga dismissed the Minority’s claims, insisting the amendments merely clarified constitutional protections.

He explained that:

Lawyers defending accused persons,
Media houses reporting on LGBTQ+ matters,
Academics conducting research, and
Doctors providing medical care

should not be criminalised for performing their legitimate duties.

He stressed that the bill remains intact and that no court would uphold prosecutions against professionals acting within their lawful mandates.

President Mahama Will Assent

Mr Ayariga assured the House that President John Dramani Mahama will assent to the bill immediately upon his return to Ghana, fulfilling a promise made earlier.

Minority Leader Calls Out “Double Standards”

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo‑Markin accused the Majority of political inconsistency, arguing that the NDC opposed amendments when in opposition but introduced them once in power. He criticised the absence of NDC sponsors during key stages of the debate.

Background

Parliament first passed a version of the bill on February 28, 2024, but it lapsed in January 2025 after legal challenges prevented then‑President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo‑Addo from assenting before the dissolution of the Eighth Parliament. The bill was reintroduced in the Ninth Parliament by its original sponsors.

—Graphic Online