The Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, has clarified that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the Anti-LGBTQ Bill, has already been passed by Parliament and only awaits presidential assent to become law.
Hon. Ayariga made the remarks during an interactive session at the Leaders’ Media Briefing in Parliament on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, as he outlined the business for the Third Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
According to the Majority Leader, Parliament has fully discharged its legislative duty on the matter, but constitutional and legal complexities have created uncertainty about the next steps.
“The Constitution says that if a bill is not passed and the life of Parliament expires, then it lapses. But this one was passed. We have passed it, and it is left with the assent,” he explained.
He added that there had been a constitutional issue regarding the President’s timelines for either assenting to the Bill or returning it to Parliament, particularly in light of pending litigation on the matter.
“If you would remember, there was a bit of a constitutional issue about what happens if the timeline for assent had passed, and the President’s timeline for sending it back to Parliament also wasn’t complied with. There was also pending litigation and some injunctive reliefs sought in relation to the matter, making the situation quite confusing,” he noted.
Hon. Ayariga emphasized that until these constitutional questions are resolved, it would be difficult for Parliament to reintroduce the Bill for further consideration.
“I think that it has been passed. If we don’t resolve the question about the legal effect of our having passed it, it will be difficult to take it again on the floor of the House,” he stressed.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
