Chairman of Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, Shaibu Mahama, has described former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision not to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2021, also known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill as a “blessing in disguise.”

Speaking in a video snippet shared by Channel One TV on X on April 23, 2026, he was heard suggesting that the delay has created an opportunity for lawmakers to revisit and strengthen the proposed legislation.

According to him, the delay in assenting to the bill since it was first introduced has allowed for deeper reflections and a broader understanding of its implications.

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“This bill was introduced some time back, but with the reflection of time, many things have changed. So, for us, it's a blessing in disguise,” he said.

Mahama explained that Parliament now has the chance to correct gaps that may have been overlooked during earlier deliberations, particularly in the final sitting before the previous Parliament lapsed.

“We now have the opportunity of incorporating, deleting, amending, and reshaping the nature of the bill,” he noted.

He stressed that ongoing reviews would take into account the rights of all individuals, assuring that any revised version of the bill would be carefully structured to avoid infringing on constitutional freedoms.

“We take cognisance of the rights of individuals who may be affected, and we are making provisions in such a way that no Ghanaian’s rights will be infringed upon,” he added.

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Shaibu Mahama further indicated that lawmakers would also consider existing legislation that already addresses some aspects of the bill, with the aim of producing a more comprehensive and legally sound framework.

He revealed that discussions on the bill have resumed, signalling a renewed legislative effort to refine and potentially reintroduce it in Parliament.

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