Bosome Freho MP Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh has raised concerns over the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, hinting that none of the bill’s sponsors from the Minority side was present when Parliament completed the final stages of the legislative process.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, June 1, the lawmaker disclosed that a lead sponsor of the bill, Assin South MP Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, objected to amendments introduced to Clause 9 and subsequently left the chamber before the House concluded consideration of the legislation.Breaking news alerts

Bosome Freho MP Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh

The controversy centres on Clause 9, which was amended to exempt certain individuals and institutions from sanctions under the proposed law. These include lawyers providing legal representation to LGBTQ persons, journalists and media organisations reporting on LGBTQ-related issues in the course of their professional duties, as well as medical professionals offering surgical, psychological and counselling services.

According to Asafo-Adjei, the sponsors of the bill never intended to create such exemptions and did not support the amendments adopted by Parliament.

“The sponsors of the bill never exempted anyone. The sponsors of the bill did not at any point discuss the introduction of Clause 9. You must have a member or a sponsor of the bill to move the final motion. None of them was there,” he said.

Expanding on his concerns, the Bosome Freho MP argued that the absence of the sponsors during the final stages of consideration raises questions about the process that led to the passage of the bill.

The bill is sponsored by 10 Members of Parliament drawn from both the Majority and Minority caucuses, including Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Samuel Nartey George, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzra, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, Nurideen Muhammed Mummuni, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Dr. Tiah Abdul Kabiru Mahama and Anthony Mmieh.

Mr. Asafo-Adjei further stated that despite the sponsors’ absence, the final motion for the bill’s passage was moved by MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, who is not among the listed sponsors of the legislation a situation he described as unfair.

His comments come as Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has summoned the leadership of the House for discussions following the passage of the bill. The Speaker has stressed the need for consensus on the legislation to ensure its effective implementation and public acceptance.

Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ bill, last week after adopting a number of amendments.

Under the revised bill, lawyers providing legal services to LGBTQ persons, journalists reporting on LGBTQ-related matters and medical professionals offering healthcare services to such persons are exempt from sanctions under the law.

The amendments were strongly opposed by the Minority Caucus, which argued that they departed from the intent of the original bill and suggested that the version previously submitted for presidential assent was flawed.

Despite the objections, Parliament proceeded to pass the legislation, setting the stage for the next constitutional Source:Patricia Boakye