Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has called on lawmakers to revisit and reconsider the recently passed anti-LGBTQ+ bill, stressing that legislation of such national significance must enjoy broad parliamentary confidence and adhere strictly to constitutional and procedural requirements.
Addressing Parliament, Mr. Bagbin emphasized that laws with far-reaching implications should not rely solely on a numerical majority but must also command widespread support across the House.
“It is my considered view that legislation of this magnitude should command not merely the numerical support of a majority of members, but also the broad confidence of the House regarding both its substance and the process by which it was adopted,” the Speaker said.
He urged Members of Parliament to make use of the House’s rules, procedures, and conventions to revisit what he described as a “historic and important bill” and ensure that its passage reflects a truly bipartisan approach.
“What is right must be done rightly,” Mr. Bagbin stated, calling on the sponsors and supporters of the bill to reconsider it in a manner that aligns with parliamentary principles and the expectations of the Ghanaian people.
The Speaker explained that his concerns were not necessarily about the objectives of the legislation, but rather the need for it to be built on a foundation of broad parliamentary support, cooperation among political parties, and strict compliance with the Constitution and Standing Orders of Parliament.
“For the avoidance of doubt, my concern is that legislation of such profound national importance should proceed on a foundation of broad parliamentary support, bipartisan cooperation, and scrupulous adherence to the procedures established by the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament,” he said.
Mr. Bagbin further noted that the legitimacy, credibility, and long-term authority of any law depend not only on the goals it seeks to achieve but also on the integrity of the process through which it is enacted.
His remarks are expected to reignite debate over the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, which has generated significant discussion both within Ghana and internationally regarding its legal, social, and human rights implications.
Parliament has yet to indicate whether it will formally reconsider the bill as proposed by the Speaker.
By Sampson Kumah Ifeetwube Elvis
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