Event Summary
In February 2026, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin directed the Business Committee to schedule the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, widely referred to as the anti-LGBTQ bill for parliamentary consideration after ruling that it met the relevant constitutional and procedural requirements for reintroduction under Parliament’s Standing Orders. He explained that, under Standing Order 187(2), the Speaker must determine whether a private member’s bill complies with Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution before it can be introduced and said the bill had satisfied that threshold.
The Speaker’s decision revived one of Ghana’s most contentious legislative debates, with significant implications for civic space, rights discourse, and public debate. In practical terms, scheduling the bill signalled that Parliament intended to revisit the matter formally, thereby reopening national controversy around LGBTQ rights, constitutional protections, and the role of Parliament in legislating on morality and family values.
This places LGBTQ persons, human rights defenders, media practitioners and civil society organisations under pressure as it indicates that Parliament is again prepared to debate on a legislation that would directly regulate identity, advocacy and public expression around sexual orientation and gender issues. The Speaker’s direction on 10 February 2026 to schedule the bill, followed by Parliament laying it again on 17 February 2026, has reopened a polarised national debate and created uncertainty for organisations working on rights, public health and inclusion.
In addition, the bill’s return is likely to chill freedom of expression, association and assembly, because advocacy and public education could become more risky. The legal environment may become more restrictive for some CSOs, especially groups working on human rights, gender, youth and minority protection, because their programming, messaging, partnerships, or even registration status could come under scrutiny if the bill advances further.