Ghana's Parliament took a significant procedural step on November 10, 2026, when it voted to rescind the prior passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
This reversal of the third-reading approval was initiated to resolve technical and legal inconsistencies before the legislation reaches the President for assent.
The motion to rescind the approval was moved by Majority Leader James Agalga on Monday, November 10, 2026.
The action officially reverses the decision made at the third-reading stage, reopening the bill for technical corrections during a second consideration.
Addressing the public on Joy News, Majority Leader Agalga clarified that errors occurred in calculating penal provisions.
Specifically, Agalga explained that
how to compute penalty units was completely done in error, in some cases.The penal provisions are not aligned properly.
He emphasized that leaving these calculation errors unaddressed would create serious operational challenges during court implementation, warning that
the bill as it stands in this current form would have serious challenges when it comes to implementation.
Parliamentary leadership reaffirmed that these corrections are procedural and do not alter the underlying legislative intent, with Agalga stating that
not much of substance would change.
He also addressed public speculation regarding President John Dramani Mahama's position, clarifying that contrary to all the wild speculations that the President has shifted goalposts and all that.
Under Standing Orders, Parliament cannot re-evaluate a settled question within the same session except through a formal rescission motion.
Reopening the legislation allows lawmakers to amend specific penalty calculations before returning the document for a final vote and transmission to the executive branch.
Under Article 106 of the Constitution, the President has seven days after receipt to notify the Speaker regarding assent.
Speaker Alban Bagbin confirmed that Parliament aims to complete the second consideration and re-pass the corrected document during the current session before the House rises this month.
The legislative history of the measure spans several years, having been introduced originally in August 2021 as a Private Member's Bill led by MP Sam Nartey George and seven colleagues.
After being passed by the 8th Parliament in February 2024, former President Nana Akufo-Addo deferred assent due to pending legal challenges filed at the Supreme Court by broadcaster Richard Dela-Sky and researcher Amanda Odoi.
The Supreme Court subsequently dismissed those challenges as premature in December 2024.
Following reintroduction in March 2025 and passage in May 2026, subsequent reviews identified the current technical inconsistencies.
With the approval of Monday's motion, lawmakers are completing the final legislative adjustments required for legal accuracy.
Parliament's decision to rescind the bill's passage serves as a technical correction to ensure that penalty frameworks align with existing national laws.
By addressing these drafting discrepancies, the House aims to deliver an enforceable legal document.
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