Speaker Bagbin must be removed over comments on anti-LGBTQ bill — Solomon Owusu
The National Communications Director of the United Party (UP), Solomon Owusu, has called for the removal of Speaker of Parliament Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, following his comments on the recently passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
His call comes on the back of the Speaker's reaction to the recently passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
Parliament passed the bill on Friday, May 29, after a heated debate between the majority and minority.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, June 2, Speaker Alban Bagbin, who was not present , appealed to lawmakers to reconsider the bill, citing concerns about procedural lapses during its passage.
The Speaker argued that revisiting the legislation would help ensure procedural integrity and strengthen public confidence in the legislative process.
However, speaking on Accra-based JoyNews’ AM Show on Thursday, June 4, Solomon Owusu criticised the Speaker, describing his actions as unacceptable.
“The Speaker of Parliament has done a great disservice to the people of this country, and he must be called out. I’ve said that he must be removed,” he stated.
He further questioned the Speaker’s authority in raising concerns about the bill’s passage, insisting that his intervention was inappropriate.
He argued that parliamentary decisions remain valid regardless of the Speaker’s later objections.
“We have passed a number of bills where the minority did not take part… was it not assented to? Was it unanimous? No way,” he said.
Meanwhile, the bill which is yet to receive presidential assent, seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities, advocacy and what it describes as the promotion of non-conventional sexual relations and family values.