Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, the Member of Parliament for Assin South, has disclosed that the reintroduced Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 is expected to be presented to Parliament for its initial reading today or tomorrow.
In an exclusive interview on the AM Show, Rev. Ntim Fordjour emphasized that the bill is already on the Order Paper. He noted it is of significant public interest and should be addressed promptly. He further mentioned that Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has consistently shown his support for the bill in principle and is expected to facilitate its rapid passage.
“I anticipate that today at 2:00 p.m., when Parliament reconvenes, it will be among the first bills called for the initial reading. The Speaker will subsequently refer it to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs,” he clarified.
The MP indicated that following the first reading, the Committee will invite the bill’s sponsors, a bipartisan group of MPs including Sam George, along with other co-sponsors, for further discussions.
The ensuing legislative procedures will then take place, culminating in the second and third readings prior to its passage.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, often referred to as the anti-LBGTQ+ bill, has emerged as one of the most divisive pieces of legislation in recent times. The previous iteration of the bill, which was passed in 2024, faced delays due to legal challenges and a court injunction that hindered Parliament from forwarding it to the President for approval.
This latest initiative to reintroduce the bill signifies a renewed effort by its sponsors to secure its passage before the 2025 legislative session.
The bill aims to criminalize specific LGBTQ+ activities and promote what its sponsors term as “Ghanaian family values,” yet it has also faced backlash from human rights advocates and segments of the international community.
