Ayariga defends anti-LGBTQ bill passage, says Parliament followed due process
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has defended parliament’s passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill known as the anti-LGBTQ bill, insisting that lawmakers complied with all parliamentary procedures and that the decision remains valid. His comments follow concerns raised by Speaker Alban Bagbin over the p...
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has defended parliament’s passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill known as the anti-LGBTQ bill, insisting that lawmakers complied with all parliamentary procedures and that the decision remains valid.
His comments follow concerns raised by Speaker Alban Bagbin over the process leading to the bill’s approval on 29 May. The speaker subsequently called for parliament to revisit the matter, citing questions about whether the bipartisan support reflected in the committee report was adequately demonstrated during proceedings on the floor.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, Ayariga rejected suggestions that the legislation was rushed through Parliament or approved in breach of parliamentary rules.
According to him, the house properly invoked procedures that allowed lawmakers to proceed through the final stages of the bill’s consideration.
He explained that parliament adopted a motion to abridge time, enabling members to continue with deliberations without waiting for the standard interval between stages of the legislative process.
“The Speaker is only appealing. He cannot in any way reverse what has happened. What has happened has happened,” Ayariga said.
The majority leader also dismissed claims that the absence of one of the bill’s sponsors during the final stages affected the validity of the proceedings.
He noted that the bill was sponsored by several lawmakers and therefore could not be withdrawn or stalled by the decision of a single sponsor.
Ayariga maintained that Parliament acted within its Standing Orders and that the approval of the bill followed established legislative procedures.
The debate over the bill has intensified following concerns raised by some legislators regarding the circumstances under which Parliament completed consideration of the legislation.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill seeks to prohibit LGBTQ-related activities in Ghana and has generated significant public debate since its passage.
The legislation is also expected to undergo further legal and constitutional scrutiny before any decision is taken on presidential assent.