The unexpected disappearance of the controversial anti-LBGTQ+ bill from Parliament’s Order Paper has triggered outrage among Minority Members of Parliament, who are demanding urgent explanations from both government and parliamentary leadership.
The bill, officially titled the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, was expected to be reintroduced on Wednesday, October 22, after appearing on the Order Paper the previous day. However, it was quietly removed from the agenda, sparking confusion and anger among lawmakers.
Members of the Minority described the move as troubling and unacceptable. They argued that no communication had been made to explain the sudden omission, despite the bill being one of the most anticipated legislative items before the House.
Some MPs accused the government of deliberately avoiding debate on the bill, insisting that such a crucial national issue should not be handled in secrecy. They called for transparency and immediate reinstatement of the bill to the Order Paper to allow for open discussion and passage.
Meanwhile, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga clarified that there was no need to re-lay the legislation since it had already been passed by the previous Parliament and forwarded to the Presidency for assent. His explanation, however, did little to calm tensions on the floor.
The anti-LGBTQ+ bill remains one of Ghana’s most divisive pieces of legislation, attracting widespread domestic support from religious and traditional groups while drawing criticism from human rights advocates and sections of the international community.
With its sudden disappearance from the day’s proceedings, the controversy surrounding the bill has deepened, leaving many Ghanaians and lawmakers alike demanding clarity on its current status and the government’s true position.
