A private legal practitioner, Kwame Adofo, has said there is no constitutional basis for the Speaker of Parliament to direct lawmakers to revisit a bill once it has been duly passed.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (3 June), Adofo explained that Ghana’s constitutional framework clearly outlines the next steps after Parliament passes a bill, leaving no room for reversal at the legislative level.

“The Constitution doesn’t give the Speaker the power to reverse a bill that has been passed,” he said.

According to him, once a bill is approved by Parliament, it must be transmitted to the President, who then has three constitutionally defined options: assent to the bill, refuse assent and return it to Parliament with reasons, or refer it to the Council of State for advice.

“These are the only options available. There is no provision for Parliament to revisit the bill on the Speaker’s directive,” he stressed.

Adofo noted that attempts to reopen a passed bill based on alleged procedural irregularities fall outside Parliament’s remit and should instead be addressed through the appropriate constitutional channels.

“If there are concerns, they must be communicated through the President when he decides whether or not to assent,” he explained.

The lawyer further clarified that referral to the Council of State is not automatic, but rather one of the discretionary options available to the President if he has concerns about the bill.

He emphasised that debates about quorum, procedural defects or inconsistencies in committee reports do not invalidate a bill at this stage.

“Once a bill is passed, it is presumed valid until a court determines otherwise,” he said.

Adofo added that any legal challenge to the validity of the bill must ultimately be resolved by the courts, not Parliament.

The comments come amid growing debate over the legislative process behind the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill and whether alleged procedural flaws could affect its legitimacy.