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President John Dramani Mahama has indicated that Ghana’s controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, is still some distance away from becoming law despite its recent passage by Parliament.
Speaking during a question-and-answer session at Chatham House in the United Kingdom on Monday, June 1, President Mahama explained that several legal and procedural issues must first be resolved before any decision can be made regarding presidential assent.
According to the President, concerns have been raised about whether Parliament had the required quorum at the time the bill was passed. He noted that this issue has become one of the major points of contention surrounding the legislation.
“Parliament has been considering it and it was supposed to have been passed last week. There have been a few issues raised. One, that there wasn’t a quorum when it was passed. That’s an issue that has come up,” he said.
Beyond the quorum concerns, Mahama revealed that questions have also been raised regarding the legislative procedures followed during the bill’s passage through Parliament.
He disclosed that he had received information indicating that the Speaker of Parliament was preparing a statement to address some of the alleged procedural lapses associated with the approval process.
The President stressed that because the legislation originated as a private members’ bill rather than a government-sponsored bill, it would undergo detailed legal examination once it reaches the Presidency.
According to him, legal experts within the Presidency, together with the Attorney-General, will thoroughly review the legislation to ensure that all constitutional and parliamentary requirements were properly followed.
“It must come for assent. Once the president gets it, you go through it because you are not part of the discussion in Parliament,” Mahama explained.
He added that the legal review would determine whether the bill is suitable for presidential approval or whether further action may be required.
President Mahama further outlined the constitutional options available if significant concerns are identified during the review process.
One option, he said, is to seek guidance from the Council of State, which serves as an advisory body to the President on important national matters.
Additionally, if substantial legal or procedural issues are discovered, the President has the authority to return the bill to Parliament with specific recommendations for reconsideration.
“And if there are issues, substantial issues that are raised, the president would return the bill to Parliament indicating exactly what the issues are,” he stated.
Mahama emphasised that several stages remain before the legislation can officially take effect.
“There’s still quite a while to go before that bill becomes law,” he concluded.
Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, on May 29 following extensive debate and amendments. The legislation retains criminal penalties for same-sex sexual relations and introduces additional sanctions against the promotion, sponsorship, and advocacy of LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana.
The bill continues to generate significant public debate both locally and internationally, with supporters describing it as a protection of Ghanaian family values while critics raise concerns about human rights implications.
