Speaker of Ghana's Parliament Alban Bagbin said he was surprised that the House passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill on May 29, 2026, having expected only the consideration stage to begin before he stepped out. On June 2 he directed Parliament to reconsider the bill, citing a need to verify whether the level of bipartisan consensus required for a vote of this weight had actually been demonstrated on the floor. Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga publicly rejected the Speaker's intervention, arguing the House complied with all rules and that the Speaker cannot nullify a passed bill. The dispute is now a constitutional question about procedure.
I expected Parliament to commence only the consideration stage before I left the House. The level of bipartisan consensus required for legislation of this weight must be clearly demonstrated on the floor.
The Speaker's surprise
Speaker Alban Bagbin said publicly that he was surprised by Parliament's decision to pass the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill on May 29, 2026. He told reporters he had expected only the consideration stage to begin during his absence from the chamber.
Direction for reconsideration
On June 2, Bagbin directed Parliament to reconsider the bill. He questioned whether the level of bipartisan consensus from both Majority and Minority had been adequately demonstrated on the floor for legislation of this weight.
Majority Leader's pushback
Majority Leader and Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga publicly rejected the Speaker's intervention. He argued the House complied with all standing orders and that the Speaker cannot nullify a passed bill.
The bill itself
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, if assented to by the President, would criminalise same-sex relationships in Ghana. France 24 and other international outlets reported the May 29 passage as a return of the bill after a previous attempt.
Constitutional dimension
The dispute is now a question about parliamentary procedure — whether the Speaker's post-passage direction has standing, and whether the bill's passage stands on the floor as recorded. Both sides are citing the standing orders.
Mentioned in this story
Surprised by the bill's passage; on June 2 directed Parliament to reconsider it.
“I expected Parliament to commence only the consideration stage before I left the House. The level of bipartisan consensus required for legislation of this weight must be clearly demonstrated on the floor.”
Publicly rejected the Speaker's intervention, arguing the House complied with all standing orders.
Passed by Parliament on May 29, 2026; would criminalise same-sex relationships if assented to.
Voted to pass the bill on May 29; now caught between the Speaker's direction to reconsider and the Majority's resistance.
Has not yet assented to the bill; outcome of the procedural dispute may shape what reaches his desk.