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Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has suspended sittings of Parliament for three days to allow the Parliamentary Chamber to host an African parliamentary conference focused on LGBTQ-related issues.
The conference, currently taking place in Ghana’s Parliament House, has brought together parliamentary leaders and delegates from across Africa to discuss what organisers describe as growing external influence on African family values and cultural traditions.
According to reports, the event is being held inside the main debating chamber of Parliament and is expected to continue until the end of the week, resulting in a temporary suspension of parliamentary business.
The development comes at a time when LGBTQ-related legislation continues to generate intense political and social debate across the African continent. Several African countries are currently considering or implementing stricter laws concerning LGBTQ activities, advocacy, and promotion.
In Ghana, discussions surrounding LGBTQ legislation have intensified following Parliament’s recent passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, widely referred to as the anti-LGBTQ bill.
The controversial legislation seeks to criminalise same-sex sexual relations and impose additional sanctions on the promotion, sponsorship, and advocacy of LGBTQ-related activities in the country.
Despite Parliament approving the bill on Friday, May 29, 2026, Speaker Bagbin has reportedly appealed to lawmakers to reconsider aspects of the legislation amid ongoing legal and constitutional concerns raised by stakeholders.
The conference is expected to focus on issues relating to African cultural identity, family systems, legislative sovereignty, and what organisers believe are increasing international pressures on African nations regarding LGBTQ rights and policies.
The gathering has already attracted public attention both locally and internationally, especially as Ghana remains under global scrutiny following recent debates over the anti-LGBTQ legislation.
Meanwhile, Parliament is expected to resume normal sittings after the conclusion of the conference later this week.
The suspension has sparked mixed reactions online, with some Ghanaians supporting the conference and others questioning the decision to halt parliamentary proceedings for the event.
