Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mahama Ayariga, has stated that Parliament lawfully passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, and that the Speaker of Parliament cannot reverse the decision.
His comments follow Speaker Alban Bagbin’s directive for Parliament to reconsider the bill over concerns regarding the process leading to its passage.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, Ayariga maintained that parliamentary procedures were followed and no standing orders were breached during consideration of the bill. He described the Speaker’s intervention as an appeal for further consultation rather than an attempt to overturn Parliament’s decision.
“The Speaker is only appealing. He cannot in any way reverse what has happened. What has happened has happened,” Ayariga said.
The Speaker had called for renewed engagement between the Majority and Minority leadership, citing concerns about whether the final approval of the bill reflected the consensus-building process he had earlier requested.
Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, on May 29 after adopting a number of amendments. The bill is currently awaiting presidential assent.
The developments have generated debate over the Speaker’s powers after a bill has been passed by Parliament, with differing views emerging on whether the legislation should be reconsidered to address procedural concerns. Ayariga, however, maintains that the decision of the House remains valid unless challenged through the appropriate constitutional processes.
