… Parliament, however, adjourned without reconsidering the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, despite earlier assurances by the Speaker, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, that it would be addressed before the House rose. …
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has stated that the recently passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, in its current form, falls short of its expectations and is not sufficiently robust to protect time-tested family values. …
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council has called on Parliament to revert to the original version of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, arguing that the current legislation is not sufficiently robust to safeguard Ghana’s moral, cultural and family values. …
By Kwadwo ASARE Investment Banker and Investment Funds Accountant kwadwo.asare@outlook.com On 29 May 2026, Ghana’s Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, reigniting one of the most polarising national debates in the country’s recent history. …
… Her comments come amid ongoing public debate over the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, widely known as the anti-gay bill, was passed by Parliament on May 29, 2026. …
… John Ntim Fordjour, has indicated that the recently passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill is to protect Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) promoters. …
Assin South MP, John Ntim Fordjour, has claimed that amendments made to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill created exemptions that would allow certain groups to advocate for LGBTQ rights without facing sanctions under the proposed law. …
… John Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament for Assin South, has accused the government of acting hypocritically in its handling of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the Anti-LGBTQ Bill. …
Parliament adjourned sine die with the Minority Caucus calling on President John Dramani Mahama to reject the recently passed Tribunals Bill, which seeks to establish a constitutional and statutory basis for tribunals' operation in Ghana. The Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin expressed concern about provisions allowing non-lawyers to serve on tribunal panels, citing memories of alleged excesses during the PNDC era and 1990s human rights abuses.
Parliament adjourned sine die with the Minority Caucus calling on President John Dramani Mahama to reject the recently passed Tribunals Bill, which seeks to establish a constitutional and statutory basis for tribunals' operation in Ghana. The Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin expressed concern about provisions allowing non-lawyers to serve on tribunal panels, citing memories of alleged excesses during the PNDC era and 1990s human rights abuses.
More than 100 African civil society organisations are calling on President Mahama to reject the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, which Parliament passed on 29 May 2026 with only 32 members present. The groups argue that professional exemptions for healthcare workers, lawyers, and media do not protect patients and the public, and point to Senegal's experience where similar legislation caused HIV treatment consultations to fall by over 25% within a month.
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council has stated that the recently passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill falls short of expectations and is not sufficiently robust to protect cultural heritage and family values. The Council called for reinstatement of an earlier, more comprehensive version of the Bill passed by the previous Parliament.
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council has called on Parliament to revert to the original version of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, arguing that the current legislation is not sufficiently robust to protect Ghana's moral, cultural and family values.
Ghana's Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill on 29 May 2026, which retains penalties for same-sex relations and introduces sanctions against the promotion of LGBT activities. An investment banker argues that diversity and inclusion have become economic issues in a global talent economy, positioning Ghana's legislative stance as a matter of economic strategy rather than solely social policy.
Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, sponsor of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, says amendments to Clause 9 have created exemptions allowing lawyers, medical practitioners, journalists, counsellors, MPs, NGOs and foreign donors to advocate for LGBTQ rights without facing sanctions, which he argues significantly weakens the legislation's original intent.
Entertainer Sister Derby has criticised Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George over his description of homosexuality as a mental illness, questioning the logic of criminalising people for a mental health condition. She also accused the minister of spreading misinformation and criticised support for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Ghana.
Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, MP for Assin South, says the recently passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill includes amendments to Clause 9 that exempt lawyers, medical doctors, journalists, NGOs, MPs, foreign donors, and counselors from sanctions for advocating or promoting LGBTQ rights, which he argues weakens the bill's original intent.
Assin South MP John Ntim Fordjour says amendments to Clause 9 of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill granted exemptions to lawyers, medical doctors, journalists, NGOs, MPs, foreign donors, and counselors to advocate for LGBTQ rights without facing sanctions.
Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, MP for Assin South, has accused the government of acting hypocritically in handling the Anti-LGBTQ Bill, alleging that inconsistencies in the government's position and conflicting messages from state officials have undermined the confidence of religious and traditional leaders who supported the legislation.
Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, MP for Assin South, has raised concerns that amendments to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, including the removal of certain provisions and addition of exemptions, could make the legislation difficult to enforce effectively if it becomes law.
Assin South MP Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, a bill sponsor, has challenged the NDC to ensure the revised Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill becomes law, arguing the party should match its earlier advocacy while in opposition with action now that it is in government, and expressing concern that exemptions introduced by the NDC majority could weaken efforts to address LGBTQ+ activities.
The principal sponsor of Ghana's Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill says the version passed by Parliament on May 29, 2026, underwent 22 deletions and 31 insertions during committee consideration, fundamentally altering the legislation and weakening its enforcement provisions compared to the 2024 version.
Damongo MP Samuel Abu Jinapor has urged President John Dramani Mahama to assent to the original anti-LGBTQ bill passed by Parliament in 2024, arguing that 31 amendments introduced by the current Parliament have significantly weakened the legislation and altered its character.
Damongo MP Samuel Abu Jinapor has called on President Mahama to assent to the original anti-LGBTQ bill passed by Parliament in 2024, alleging that the NDC government has departed from its commitment by approving 31 amendments to the legislation that have weakened it before its passage on May 29, 2026.
Joy Prime's current affairs programme will bring together political communicators and a youth advocate to discuss the recently passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, disaster management, and emerging political dynamics ahead of the 2028 elections.
The opposition New Patriotic Party Minority has accused the governing NDC of reversing its position on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, noting that while in opposition the NDC demanded presidential assent to the original 2024 bill but has now overseen substantial amendments to the legislation after assuming office.
The NPP Minority Caucus has alleged that the NDC government has substantially altered the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill through 31 amendments introduced after taking office, contradicting the party's previous opposition to any changes when the bill passed unanimously in Ghana's 8th Parliament in 2024.
Ghana's NPP Minority Caucus has criticized the NDC administration for what it calls political insincerity on the amended Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, accusing the ruling party of reversing its previous opposition to amendments when it was in opposition.
Minister Samuel Nartey George disclosed that the government is preparing a policy proposal requiring users to verify their identity with a driver's licence or national identification card before accessing pornographic websites, aimed at preventing children's exposure to explicit online content. The proposal is being prepared for Cabinet consideration and is modelled on similar measures in the United Kingdom.
Ghana's parliamentary Minority Caucus has called for the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, passed unanimously by the 8th Parliament in 2024, to be reintroduced in its original form and sent to President John Mahama for assent, accusing the governing NDC of abandoning a position it championed while in opposition.
Dr. Rasheed Draman, Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs, has called on the government and parliamentary leadership to urgently clarify their position on the recently passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, citing conflicting signals from state actors including the Speaker and President that risk undermining public confidence in the legislative process.
The Centre for Democratic Movement has challenged the extensive revisions to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, saying the amendments contradict earlier claims that Parliament had completed work on the legislation. The CDM noted that the latest version contains significant changes to definitions, offences, exemptions, and safeguards, including the removal of a provision that criminalised acts deemed to promote or facilitate the subversion of family values.
The Director of Communications for the Movement for Change has called for the removal of Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin over his decision to seek reconsideration of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill following its passage by Parliament on May 29. Mr Solomon Owusu argued that the Speaker's actions undermined Parliament's authority and that the First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor had exercised the same constitutional authority when presiding over the bill's consideration.
Speaker Alban Bagbin told the Fourth African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Sovereignty and Values that African countries must resist external pressure to alter domestic laws and cultural norms, arguing that conditioning development aid on legal changes violates UN principles of state sovereignty.
The Centre for Democratic Movement has challenged the government, Parliament, and bill proponents to explain what it describes as a dramatic shift in handling the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, saying recent legislative developments suggest extensive review and substantial amendments affecting its definitions, offences, exemptions, and other provisions.
Edem Senanu, Chairman of Advocates for Christ, has raised concerns about poorly drafted exemptions in the newly passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, warning they could create loopholes that undermine the legislation's objectives. While noting the bill's second passage demonstrates broad national consensus, he said aspects of the legislation still require urgent attention.
Ghana's Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has disowned a viral social media post criticizing the country's anti-gay bill as making people's existence a crime, claiming his account was compromised. However, Joy Online notes that Afenyo-Markin has made similar statements on record in a TV3 interview and in Parliament, including saying he does not think people should go to jail for their sexual orientation.
Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, has warned that promoting same-sex relations attacks society's foundation, and argues Ghana has reached consensus on the anti-LGBTQ+ bill despite renewed debate following President Mahama's and Speaker Bagbin's recent comments suggesting legislative review.
Advocates for Christ Chairman Edem Senanu has questioned how Parliament allowed procedural and drafting concerns to emerge after passing the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill a second time, citing concerns over quorum and compliance with legislative steps despite what he describes as broad national consensus on the issue.