Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has questioned why the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill has resurfaced on Parliament’s order paper despite already being passed in the previous session.
According to him, the issue should be directed to the Executive for presidential assent rather than being brought back to Parliament.
The bill, which was passed on February 28, 2024, lapsed because former President Nana Akufo-Addo did not sign it into law before the dissolution of Parliament in January 2025.
Speaking at a media engagement with the Minority and Majority Leaders on October 22, Ayariga explained that what is left is for the president to give it approval.
“My recollection is that it was passed by parliament already. We passed this already as parliament,” Ayariga said.
“The issue was giving it presidential ascent so that is where it should’ve taken up,” he added.
He expressed surprise at seeing the bill listed again on the order paper and said he immediately raised the issue with the Speaker.
“Yesterday I saw it on the order paper. I did ask the speaker, I said ‘Mr. Speaker but this bill was passed, why is it on our order paper again?’ Speaker himself expressed surprise finding it on the order paper,” he recounted.
Ayariga added that the Speaker questioned parliamentary staff on how the bill was reintroduced.
“The speaker invited the clerk in my presence and asked how did this bill find its way advertised on the order paper,” he said.
He further emphasized that there is no need for the bill to be further discussed in Parliament.
“I don’t see why anyone should bring us a bill that we have passed already,” he stressed.
Ghanas Parliament reconvened on Tuesday, October 21.
