The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has said that he was surprised that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill or anti-gay bill, was passed by the House on Friday, May 29, 2026.

Speaking at a media engagement in Accra on Monday, June 1, 2026, Speaker Bagbin indicated that he had not expected the bill to be passed so quickly because it was at the consideration stage.

“In fact, when it was passed on Friday, it was even a surprise to me, because I knew that they were going to start the consideration of the bill, and that was the instruction I left before I went to attend to other activities.

“It was Friday, and members wanted to go home early to their constituencies because we were going to sit today, and so I knew they wouldn't have completed it. But all of a sudden, I read about this passage, I reacted, and later I saw on TV all the things that happened,” he said.

Alban Bagbin, before expressing his shock at the passage of the bill, gave details of the consultations that had been done to ensure that the House got it right.

“You know the copious instruments and laws on human rights all over; we had to go through all of them. From the UN Charter to the African People's Rights Charter… we had to go through all of them. Then we have also our development partners who had a lot of contributions to make. We had the United Nations coming in with proposals, some memos, and everything. We, as Ghanaians, also had to dig deeper into our cultures, our customs, and our values before we came out with what was passed on Friday,” he said.

He went on to say that he would engage the leadership of the House to address the disagreement over the bill that was passed.

He indicated that it is important to get the buy-in of Ghanaians on the bill to ensure its effective implementation.

“And so this evening, I have asked the leaders to meet me in my office, so they will be here for us to go through it. This is such a critical bill that we believe there must be consensus. Well, it's not about passing a bill; it's about implementing it and making sure that it benefits the people.

“So leaders of both sides of the House will be with me this evening for us to discuss what's next after the passage of the bill, and I'm very sure that, being men and women of wisdom, we will find a way out,” he said.

About the passage of the bill:

Ghana's Parliament has, for the second time, passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, on May 29, 2026.

The bill was first passed by Parliament in 2024, but then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo did not assent to it, thereby preventing it from becoming law.

The reintroduced bill included many amendments that the Minority Caucus of the House was unhappy with. The Minority Caucus strongly opposed the amendments, arguing that they suggested the original version of the bill submitted to former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for assent was flawed and not fit for purpose.

Under the amended provisions, individuals who provide legal advice or legal representation to persons identified as LGBTQ will not be liable to punishment.

The bill also exempts journalists and media organisations reporting on LGBTQ-related issues or covering such matters in the course of their professional duties.

In addition, medical professionals, including those offering surgical, psychological, and counselling services to LGBTQ persons, will not be penalised under the law.

Despite the Minority's objections, Parliament proceeded to pass the bill.

The Crimes and the Jail Terms: Details of new anti-gay bill passed by Parliament



Watch a video of the Speaker's remarks below:






BAI