The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called on Parliament and other relevant constitutional bodies to handle any further deliberations on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, widely referred to as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, with urgency, respect for constitutional provisions and thorough legislative scrutiny.
The Bishops noted that Parliament’s decision to overturn its earlier passage of the bill offers an opportunity for lawmakers to revisit the proposed legislation and carefully examine its moral, social, cultural and human rights implications. Their comments follow Parliament’s decision on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, to rescind its earlier approval of the bill, allowing the House to reconsider the proposed law.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin announced the decision after MPs voted to reverse the resolution previously adopted on May 29, 2026. He explained that the move came after Parliament’s Legislation Drafting Department reviewed the bill and identified discrepancies between decisions made by lawmakers during deliberations and provisions contained in the final draft.
In a communiqué released at the conclusion of their annual Plenary Assembly, held from November 3 to 14, 2026, the Catholic Bishops stressed that any renewed consideration of the legislation must be guided by constitutional principles and a rigorous legislative process.
“We note Parliament’s decision to rescind its earlier passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill. We encourage Parliament and the relevant constitutional institutions to approach any further consideration of the matter with the requisite speed, constitutional fidelity, legislative diligence and due regard for its moral, social, cultural and human rights implications,” they stated.
The Bishops also reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s position on the sanctity of human life, the dignity of every individual, and its teachings on marriage, family and human sexuality. “We reiterate the Church’s commitment to the sanctity of human life, the dignity of every person, the authentic understanding of marriage, family and human sexuality,” they added.
The annual Plenary Assembly was held at the Divine Providence Pastoral Centre in Jamasi, within the Konongo-Mampong Diocese of the Ashanti Region. The gathering was held under the theme, “Communion, Participation and Mission: Preparing the Catholic Church in Ghana for Her 150th Anniversary in 2030.”
