Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has defended Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, over his call for a reconsideration of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, (anti-LGBTQ bill) insisting that the objective should be to pass legislation that can withstand legal scrutiny and be effectively implemented.
Speaking on the Channel One Newsroom on Tuesday, June 2, the Assin South MP, who is one of the proponents of the bill, argued that concerns raised by the Speaker should not be dismissed, particularly given the potential legal vulnerabilities of the legislation.
According to him, Parliament must prioritise producing a robust and enforceable law rather than rushing through a bill that could later be challenged and struck down by the courts.
“If anyone disagrees with the Speaker, then that person does not really want any bill to be passed. If the bill remains in a problematic state, then somebody can legally challenge it and knock it off completely, and then we will have no law passed,” he said.
Rev. Fordjour stressed that a law that is not fit for purpose could ultimately undermine the very objectives it seeks to achieve.
“Or the bill you know is not fit for purpose and many calls have come, you will ignore them, pass it and cannot implement it because if you do, you make the situation worse than it was before,” he added.
He urged Parliament’s leadership to focus on addressing identified concerns and ensuring the final legislation effectively tackles what proponents see as the challenges posed by LGBTQ activities in the country.
“We must be frank to the Majority Leader that Ghanaians are not looking for just any bill. No. We are looking for a bill that is fit for purpose and cures the mischief in the LGBT cancer in this country,” he stated.
His comments come after Speaker Bagbin directed Parliament to reconsider the already passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, following discussions with the leadership of the House aimed at building broader consensus around the legislation.
The Speaker on Tuesday called for further engagement between the Majority and Minority leadership after raising concerns about the process that led to the passage of the bill.
Bagbin said he had been surprised that the legislation was fully passed on Friday, May 29, explaining that he had expected Parliament to begin only the consideration stage before proceedings concluded.
He maintained that the bill, given its significance and the level of public interest it has generated, requires wider consultation and consensus among stakeholders.
The Speaker also noted that several institutions and development partners, including the United Nations, had submitted memoranda and recommendations on the bill before its passage, underscoring the need for careful consideration of all viewpoints.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, was passed by Parliament after lawmakers adopted a series of amendments, including exemptions for legal practitioners, journalists, media organisations and healthcare professionals acting within the scope of their professional duties.
Despite objections from the Minority Caucus, Parliament approved the legislation, which is now subject to the remaining constitutional processes.
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