The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako, has expressed confidence that President John Dramani Mahama will assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, despite the possibility of fresh legal challenges against the legislation.
The bill, widely referred to as the anti-LGBTQ bill, was passed by Parliament on Friday, May 29, 2026. It seeks to prohibit LGBTQ activities in Ghana and includes amendments that exempt certain individuals and institutions from sanctions under the proposed law.
Speaking on the development, Mr Bediako stated that he does not expect any court action to prevent the President from signing the bill into law.
According to him, President Mahama remains committed to the wishes of the Ghanaian people and will not hesitate to give his assent once the legislation reaches his desk.
“He will not play games with the people of Ghana. Even if further legal action is initiated, I believe that the very day President Mahama receives the bill, he will assent to it,” the lawmaker said.
Mr Bediako described the bill’s passage as a significant milestone and argued that it presents an opportunity for President Mahama to accomplish what former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was unable to achieve during his tenure.
“We have come a long way with this legislation. It is now a test for President Mahama. What former President Akufo-Addo could not do, it is expected that President Mahama will do. He has assured us,” he stated.
The Akwatia MP explained that before the bill is transmitted to the President, it will undergo the standard legislative drafting and refinement process to ensure that the final text accurately reflects Parliament’s decisions.
“It will now be fine-tuned and properly drafted, as required under parliamentary procedure, before being presented to the President for assent,” he added.
Background
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill was first passed by Parliament in February 2024 and subsequently forwarded to then-President Akufo-Addo for consideration.
However, the legislation did not receive presidential assent after a series of legal challenges were filed at the Supreme Court. The petitions questioned both the constitutionality of certain provisions in the bill and the legislative process used in its passage.
Petitioners argued that aspects of the bill could infringe on constitutional rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of association, and equality before the law. Concerns were also raised about whether Parliament had complied with constitutional requirements relating to private members’ bills and potential financial implications arising from the legislation.
The pending court cases effectively stalled the bill from becoming law.
In 2025, Parliament revisited the legislation, introducing amendments before reconsidering it. Following debate and review, lawmakers approved the revised Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill on May 29, 2026.
The bill will now proceed through the final legislative processes before being presented to President Mahama for consideration and possible assent.