Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has called on President Nana Akufo-Addo and the Judiciary to “repent and seek forgiveness” for what he describes as unconstitutional interference in the passage of Ghana’s Anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
Speaking at a media briefing ahead of Parliament’s scheduled session on November 7, Bagbin argued that both the Executive and Judiciary have disregarded the legislative process, which he claims undermines the authority of Parliament.
Bagbin criticized the President’s refusal to accept the bill for assent due to ongoing legal challenges, saying, “The Judiciary is supportive of this conduct by the receipt and processing of a suit on this subject matter. These are dangerous precedents for our democratic journey. Both the President and the Judiciary have sinned against the constitution and must seek the opportunity to confess and repent to be forgiven.”
In his address, the Speaker expressed concern that some MPs, including parliamentary leaders, are increasingly turning to the Supreme Court to challenge parliamentary processes.
“The courts are replete with debates and proceedings of Parliament,” he said. “Most worrying is these proceedings are initiated by some Members of Parliament—even leaders of Parliament—who are to know better.”
The Anti-LGBTQ+ bill, formally titled the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill,” has faced legal roadblocks since its passage in February, as lawsuits filed by activists argue that the bill infringes on individual rights. Journalist Richard Dela Sky, gender activist Dr. Amanda Odoi, and law lecturer Prince Obiri-Korang are among those challenging the bill, leading the Judiciary to delay its final approval by the Executive.
The Judicial Service of Ghana, in a statement from September 2024, explained that procedural steps are yet to be completed in these Supreme Court cases, pointing out that the Attorney General and Parliament have not submitted all necessary legal documents.
These unresolved filings have contributed to delays in moving forward with the cases, which were initially filed as early as March 2024.
