Anti-LGBTQ Bill Was Lawfully Passed, Speaker Cannot Reverse Parliament’s Decision - Ayariga

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has insisted that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, was passed in accordance with parliamentary procedures and that Speaker Alban Bagbin cannot reverse the decision already taken by the House.

His remarks follow concerns raised by the Speaker after the bill was passed on May 29. Bagbin indicated that he had expected Parliament to continue consideration of the legislation and was surprised to learn that all stages of the legislative process had been completed.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, June 2, Ayariga maintained that Parliament acted within its Standing Orders and that no procedural violations occurred during the passage of the bill.

“The Speaker is only appealing. He cannot in any way reverse what has happened. What has happened has happened. We have passed many bills the same way, and indeed there was no rule that was breached at all,” Ayariga stated.

The Majority Leader explained that concerns regarding the requirement for a bill to wait 24 hours before progressing to the next stage were addressed through a procedural motion to abridge time, which was approved by the First Deputy Speaker.

“If you check the Votes and Proceedings, you will see clearly that the procedural motion was moved and allowed by the First Deputy Speaker. We abridged time and that enabled us to take the bill through the third consideration stage. So there was absolutely no breach of procedure,” he said.

Ayariga also rejected suggestions that the bill could have been withdrawn by one of its sponsors, Assin South MP John Ntim Fordjour.

According to him, the legislation had multiple sponsors, meaning the withdrawal of support by a single member would not have halted its consideration or passage.

“The Honourable Ntim Fordjour could not have withdrawn the bill. He was not the only sponsor. There were several other sponsors, so whatever he threatened to do or not do had no effect whatsoever on the bill and its consideration by the House,” he added.

The controversy comes amid ongoing debate over the future of the bill, with President John Dramani Mahama indicating that further review may be required before any decision is taken on presidential assent.

Meanwhile, Bosome Freho MP Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh has raised concerns that none of the Minority sponsors of the bill was present when Parliament completed the final stages of the legislative process.