Parliament has rescinded its earlier decision to pass the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, popularly known as the Anti-Gay Bill, following the identification of inconsistencies between decisions taken by lawmakers and the provisions captured in the final legislative document.
The decision was adopted on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, after Majority Leader James Agalga moved a motion for the House to reverse its Third Reading decision of Friday, May 29, 2026.
The move, explained by Speaker Alban Bagbin, is intended to allow Parliament to reconcile the discrepancies through the appropriate legislative procedure before proceeding with further consideration of the controversial bill.
“It has to be brought back for the House to do the proper thing. So that is why it has been brought back for us to rescind the earlier decision of the Third Reading and then reconcile those inconsistencies.”
Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Alaban Sumana Kingsfor Bagbin
Moving the motion before the House, Majority Leader James Agalga requested Parliament to rescind its decision taken on May 29, 2026, in respect of the Third Reading of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025.
The motion was seconded by Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, who informed the Speaker of his support. “Speaker, I rise to second the motion,” he stated.
Following the motion and its seconding, Speaker Bagbin explained the circumstances that necessitated the reversal before putting the question to members for a decision.
Bagbin Cites Inconsistencies in Legislative Draft
The Speaker disclosed that Parliament’s Legislation Drafting Department identified inconsistencies during its tracking of decisions taken by the House after the bill’s Third Reading.
He explained that the department is responsible for translating parliamentary decisions into legislative documents and conducts a tracking process to ensure that the final draft accurately reflects what lawmakers have approved.
According to Speaker Bagbin, the review uncovered minor errors that the drafting department could ordinarily correct. However, the identified inconsistencies involved decisions already taken by Parliament, meaning the department could not independently alter them.
He stressed that allowing the drafters to change provisions reflecting the House’s decisions would amount to interfering with Parliament’s authority. The Speaker therefore maintained that the matter had to return to lawmakers for the formal reversal of the earlier decision, after which the inconsistencies could be reconciled through the proper procedure.
Parliament Votes to Rescind May 29 Approval
After explaining the reasons for the motion, Speaker Bagbin put the question to the House, asking members who supported the proposal to indicate their position. “Those in favour, say aye. Those against, say no,” he directed.
“Honourable Members, the ayes have it. The House has accordingly rescinded its earlier decision, which was taken on Friday 29 May 2026, in respect of the Third Reading of the Human, Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025”.
Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Alaban Sumana Kingsfor Bagbin
The decision reverses the House’s previous Third Reading approval and reopens the legislative process for further consideration of the bill. It does not, however, amount to a permanent withdrawal of the proposed legislation.
Bill’s Legislative Journey Continues
The latest development adds another chapter to the prolonged legislative journey of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill. An earlier version of the legislation was passed by Parliament on February 28, 2024, but did not receive presidential assent before the dissolution of the Eighth Parliament ahead of the 2024 general election.
The bill subsequently lapsed. In March 2025, the legislation was reintroduced as a private member’s bill by a group of lawmakers, restarting its consideration in the Ninth Parliament.
Parliament eventually approved the 2025 version on May 29, 2026, following amendments to certain provisions, including exemptions relating to the professional work of journalists, medical personnel and legal practitioners.
The legislation has attracted considerable public debate, with supporters arguing that it protects Ghanaian family and cultural values, while critics have raised concerns about its implications for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Further Parliamentary Consideration Ahead
The rescission now provides Parliament with the opportunity to revisit the provisions affected by the identified inconsistencies and ensure that the final legislative text accurately reflects decisions taken by the House.
The bill will require further parliamentary consideration and a fresh Third Reading before it can proceed through the remaining legislative steps towards presidential assent. For now, the Speaker’s explanation places the focus on correcting the legislative record and ensuring that the bill reflects the decisions formally approved by Parliament.
The House’s latest action therefore resets the bill’s passage process, leaving lawmakers to reconcile the identified inconsistencies before determining its next legislative course.
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