Agalga rejects claims Mahama has shifted position on LGBTQ bill

Majority Leader James Agalga has dismissed allegations that President John Mahama has altered his stance on the LGBTQ bill. In an interview on Joy News’ PM Express, Agalga stated that parliamentary errors have caused delays in forwarding the legislation to the Presidency. During the broadcast, Agalga emphasized the need for Parliament to rectify the bill’s penal provisions before submitting it for approval.

Contrary to rumours that the President had shifted his position, Agalga confirmed that this was not the case. He held Parliament accountable for the enactment of laws, asserting that they had the responsibility to pass the legislation. After the bill passed its third reading, inconsistencies were discovered, including errors in calculating penalty units and provisions that did not align with current legislation. Agalga highlighted that failure to address these issues would create complications when courts apply the law.

As a result, Parliament would need to revert to the third-reading stage to correct the penal provisions, enabling a subsequent review before the bill can proceed to passage. Agalga clarified that the changes would be minimal.

The controversy surrounding the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, began in May 2026 when it was passed. The Minority opposed amendments affecting professional services, contending that they weakened the legislation. The Majority maintained that the exemptions reinforced existing constitutional safeguards. Speaker Alban Bagbin became embroiled in the debate after expressing surprise at the bill's passage.

He called for consensus on the process and implementation, later renewing his commitment to complete the bill during the current session. Bagbin also threatened to publicly name anyone who obstructed the process.

Agalga confirmed that Speaker Bagbin would oversee the corrections during this meeting, adding that the bill would reach the President this month. He maintained that Parliament was the appropriate venue to resolve the issues and facilitate the bill's transmission to the President.