Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has dismissed ongoing speculation surrounding the controversial Anti-LGBTQ Bill, reaffirming that the legislation will be passed when Parliament reconvenes.
Speaking at the Speaker’s Parliamentary Decentralisation Programme on Saturday, April 11, Bagbin stated that the bill has already gone through all the required parliamentary stages and is now awaiting final passage.
“We started, and we processed it. It has gone through all the stages, and the next meeting of Parliament will see us passing that bill into law,” he said.
He also addressed the previous outcome of the bill, noting that although it had been passed by Parliament, the former President declined to assent to it. Bagbin distanced Parliament from that decision, suggesting it may have had political consequences.
“But for some reason, the President did not assent to it. I’m sure one of the reasons why you punished him and his party is one of these,” he remarked.
According to the Speaker, the current President has given assurances that he will sign the bill into law once it is passed again.
“His Excellency the President assured me that when we pass the bill, and it comes to him, he is going to assent to it,” he disclosed.
Bagbin emphasized his commitment to action over rhetoric, highlighting Parliament’s previous efforts in advancing the bill.
“I’m not a man of words. I’m a man of action. That is how we got it passed in Parliament,” he said.
He further cautioned the public against misinformation regarding parliamentary proceedings, urging citizens to disregard unverified claims.
“Don’t listen to people who don’t know what is in Parliament. Please, I repeat, don’t listen to people who don’t know what is in Parliament,” he stressed.
The Speaker also criticized what he described as “rumour mongers” and political actors spreading misleading narratives about Parliament’s work.
“Please leave the rumour mongers. They can play that kind of bad politics. That is not what we are here for,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Bagbin underscored that Parliament’s decisions are guided by Ghana’s cultural values and principles.
“Our culture, values, and principles are different. We resist it today. We will not be colonised again. That is gone. It’s history,” he added.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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