By: Bervelyn Longdon
The Africa Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) has cautioned that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, could face legal challenges in court amid ongoing debates over parliamentary procedures and questions surrounding quorum during its passage.
The controversial legislation, popularly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ bill, was passed by Parliament on May 29 and has since sparked widespread public discussion, drawing reactions from lawmakers, legal experts, civil society organizations, and advocacy groups both within and outside Ghana.
One of the key issues that has emerged following the passage of the bill relates to whether the House had the required quorum at the time the legislation was approved. While no formal objection was raised on the floor of Parliament during the proceedings, concerns about procedural compliance have continued to fuel public debate.
Speaking to Citi News, the Executive Director of ACEPA, Dr. Rasheed Draman, warned that the bill could become the subject of legal scrutiny, particularly because of the intense public interest surrounding the legislation.
“Just mark my words, somebody is going to go to the court and challenge this and say, procedurally, there are issues about the passage of this bill. Despite the fact that, nobody raised the issue of quorum during the passage of the bill, it is presumed that parliament is the master of its own rules.
“And until somebody raised an issue, there is the presumption of quorum. People will go to court and try to challenge this, especially given the heightened public interest in this.”
Dr. Draman explained that parliamentary procedure is a critical aspect of lawmaking and that any perceived irregularities could become grounds for legal action, particularly in relation to a bill that has generated significant national and international attention.
He noted that while Parliament generally operates under the principle that it is responsible for managing its own affairs and procedures, courts may still be asked to examine whether constitutional and legal requirements were satisfied during the legislative process.
Source: Citi Newsroom
