Parliament has overturned its earlier decision to pass the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 after inconsistencies were identified between resolutions adopted by the House and the final draft prepared following the bill’s third reading.
The decision was announced by Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, after Members of Parliament voted to rescind the resolution approving the bill at its third reading on May 29, 2026.
Explaining the development, Speaker Bagbin said the discrepancies were uncovered during the legislative drafting process, where parliamentary decisions are reviewed and incorporated into the final text of a bill.
“It’s important I draw attention to why this is being done. This is being done because after the third reading, there’s a department here we refer to as the Legislation Drafting Department. They are the drafters who draft all what we do here, the decisions we take. And so they do what they call tracking,” he explained.
According to him, while the drafting team can correct technical errors, they do not have the authority to alter substantive decisions taken by Parliament.
“The draft people could put them right. But once there are decisions, they cannot tamper with the decision of the House. It has to be brought back for the House to do the proper thing,” he stated.
Following deliberations, the House voted in favour of rescinding its earlier approval of the bill to allow the identified inconsistencies to be properly addressed.
Announcing the outcome, Speaker Bagbin declared: “Honourable members, the Ayes have it. The House has accordingly rescinded its earlier decision, which was taken on Friday, 29th May 2026, in respect of the third reading of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025.”
