Ghana's Parliament passes anti-LGBTQ bill again

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:00][music] >> Mr. Speaker, Clause 18, amendment proposed interpretation for family values, paragraph A, line three.

[00:00:12]Delete gender and insert sex. I so move, Mr. Speaker.

[00:00:16]>> Honorable members, the proposed amendment is for the consideration of the house. Any further amendment?

[00:00:21]In the absence of any further amendment, I'll put the question. As many as are in favor, say I.

[00:00:27]Those against say no.

[00:00:29]The eyes have it. The proposed amendment to Clause 18 is ordered to stand part of the bill. Yes, chairman [clears throat] of the committee, amendment numbered XCIV, Clause 18.

[00:00:40]>> Again, Mr. Speaker, Clause 18, amendment proposed, interpretation for marriage.

[00:00:46]Delete and insert the following.

[00:00:48]Marriage means a union between a man and a woman under the Marriages Act 1884 to 1985, Cap 127, whose sexes are determined at birth. I so move, Mr. Speaker.

[00:01:03]>> Honorable members, I'll put the question. As many as are in favor, say I.

[00:01:08]Those against say no.

[00:01:11]The eyes have it.

[00:01:13]The proposed amendment is ordered to stand part of the bill.

[00:01:18]Now, amendment number XCV.

[00:01:22]>> Mr. Speaker, Clause 18, amendment [clears throat] proposed, interpretation for non-binary line two, after female, add except intersex. I so move, Mr. Speaker.

[00:01:34]>> It is for the consideration of the house. Any further amendment?

[00:01:38]In the absence of any further amendment, I'll put the question. As many as are in favor, say I.

[00:01:43]Those against say no.

[00:01:46]The eyes have it. The proposed amendment by the chairman of the committee is ordered to stand part of the bill. Now, chairman, XCVI.

[00:01:54]>> Mr. Speaker, Clause 18, amendment proposed, interpretation for intersex delete and insert the following intersex means a person born with innate variations in sex characteristics including chromosomes hormones gonads or anatomy other than binary definitions of male and female I so move Mr. Speaker.

[00:02:20]>> All our members the proposed amendment is for the consideration of the house any further amendment in the absence of any further amendment I'll put a question as many as are in favor say I those against say no the eyes have it the proposed amendment is ordered to stand part of the bill X C V I I >> Mr. Speaker again clause 18 amendment proposed at the following new definition romantic relations means any sexual act other than sexual intercourse I so move Mr. Speaker No promotion sorry Mr. Speaker X X C V I I clause 18 amendment proposed at the following new definition promotion means the active encouragement of another person to engage in an act prohibited under this act I so move Mr. Speaker >> All members the proposed amendment by the chairman of the committee is for the consideration of the house any further amendment in the absence of any further amendment I'll put a question those in favor say I those against say no the eyes have it the proposed amendment by the chairman of the committee is ordered to stand part of the bill now X C V I I I >> Mr. Speaker clause 18 amendment proposed added the following new definition romantic relations mean any sexual act other than sexual intercourse I so move Mr. Speaker >> It is for the consideration of the house honorable members. Any proposal further proposal In the absence of any further proposal, I will ask the question. As many as are in favor of the proposed amendment standing part of the bill, say I.

[00:04:09]Those against say no.

[00:04:11]The eyes have it. The proposed amendment by the chairman of the committee is ordered to stand part of the bill. Now, XC IX.

[00:04:19]>> Mr. Speaker, clause 18 amendment proposed interpretation for plus line two after LGBTQAP+ add but contrary to the binary categories of male and female determined determined at birth. I so move, Mr. Speaker.

[00:04:39]>> Honorable members, it is for your consideration. Any further amendment?

[00:04:43]In the absence of any further amendment, I'll put the question to chairman's amendment. Those in favor say I.

[00:04:50]Those against say no.

[00:04:52]The eyes have it. The proposed amendment is ordered to stand part of the bill.

[00:04:57]Now, I'll put the question on the entire clause 18 as variously amended. Those in favor say I.

[00:05:04]Those against say no.

[00:05:06]The eyes have it. Clause 18 as variously amended is ordered to stand part of the bill. Now, new clause.

[00:05:14]>> Institutions engage in provision of services and support.

[00:05:20]>> Chairman of the committee.

[00:05:21]>> Mr. Speaker, new clause amendment proposed add the following new clause.

[00:05:26]Institutions engage in provision of services and support.

[00:05:30]Nothing in this act shall prevent or limit the unlawful duties limit the sorry lawful duties or functions of an institution. I so move, Mr. Speaker.

[00:05:42]>> Honorable members, it is for your consideration. I will then put the question in the [clears throat] absence of any further proposed amendments Those in favor say I.

[00:05:52]Those against say no.

[00:05:55]The eyes have it. The proposed amendment is ordered to stand part of the bill.

[00:06:00]Honorable members, long title.

[00:06:04]>> Oh, clause 19. Consequential amendment.

[00:06:08]>> Chairman of the committee.

[00:06:15]>> Mr. Speaker, no proposed amendments. No advertised amendments. Yes.

[00:06:20]>> It is for the consideration of the house. Honorable members, any proposed amendment to clause 19?

[00:06:26]In the absence of any proposed amendment to clause 19, I'll put the question as many as are in favor of clause 19 standing part of the bill, say I.

[00:06:35]Those against say no.

[00:06:37]The eyes have it.

[00:06:39]Clause 19 is accordingly ordered to stand part of the bill.

[00:06:43]Now, the long title.

[00:06:45]>> An act to provide for human sexual rights and family values and related matters.

[00:06:51]>> Honorable members, any proposed amendment to the long title? Chairman of the committee.

[00:06:56]>> Mr. Speaker, no advertised amendment.

[00:06:58]>> It is for the consideration of the house. Any proposed amendment? Honorable members In the absence of any proposed amendment, I'll put the question to the long title. As many as are in favor, say I.

[00:07:12]Those against say no.

[00:07:14]Honorable members, the eyes have it. The long title is accordingly ordered to stand part of the bill.

[00:07:21]Honorable members, this brings us to the end of consideration stage for human sexual rights and family values bill 2025.

[00:07:52]>> Yes, majority leader.

[00:07:55]Mr. Speaker, we will take item 41.

[00:08:09]Speaker. Very well, item 41.

[00:08:13]Motion. [clears throat] Speaker.

[00:08:18]I rise to move that notwithstanding the provision of order 172 rule 1 of the standing orders which requires that when a bill has passed through the consideration stage the third reading thereof shall not be taken until at least one sitting day has elapsed the motion for the third reading of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 may be moved today. Mr. Speaker, I so move.

[00:08:48]>> Honorable members, motion ably moved.

[00:08:50]Any seconder?

[00:08:54]>> I rise to second the motion.

[00:08:55]>> Honorable members, motion moved and seconded. It is for the consideration of the house. This being a procedural motion, I'll put the question. As many as are in favor say I.

[00:09:05]>> I. [clears throat] >> Those against say no.

[00:09:08]Honorable members, definitely the eyes have it.

[00:09:12]The motion is carried.

[00:09:15]Now, consequential motion number 42.

[00:09:20]>> Speaker.

[00:09:23]I rise to move that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 be now read the third time. Mr. Speaker, I so move.

[00:09:34]>> Honorable members, motion for the third reading of the bill and the second there.

[00:09:43]>> I rise to second the motion.

[00:09:45]>> Honorable members, motion moved and seconded, it is for the consideration of the house.

[00:09:52]I will then put the question.

[00:09:54]>> [clears throat] >> As many as are in favor of the motion, say I.

[00:09:58]>> I.

[00:09:59]>> Those against, say no.

[00:10:02]Honorable members, the eyes have it. The motion for the third reading is accordingly adopted.

[00:10:08]>> An act to provide for human sexual rights and family values and related matters.

[00:10:15]>> Honorable members, the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 is duly read for the third time and passed.

[00:10:28]>> Aye.

[00:10:29]>> Aye.

[00:10:31]>> Aye.