Majority Leader James Agalga confirms LGBTQ bill will reach Mahama this month

Majority Leader James Agalga says the LGBTQ bill will reach President John Dramani Mahama this month, after Parliament corrects errors in its penalty provisions. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, Agalga responded emphatically when asked whether the bill would go before the President this month. “Absolutely,” he said. Asked whether that would happen before Parliament rises, he added: “Yes, yes, yes.” The assurance sets a new deadline for legislation that has sparked fierce political exchanges, legal challenges, and criticism from human rights advocates.

An earlier version passed in February 2024 drew international condemnation and warnings about its impact on Ghana’s development funding. It never became law. Then-President Nana Akufo-Addo withheld assent pending legal challenges, and the bill subsequently lapsed. Parliament passed a revived version in May 2026. However, concerns over its punishment provisions forced another review.

The House went on recess in July without completing that process. Mr Agalga said the latest delay stemmed from errors Parliament itself needed to correct. “For instance, how to compute penalty units was completely done in error, in some cases,” he said. He explained that the penalties did not properly align with existing legislation. Leaving them unchanged would create difficulties when courts imposed sentences.

“Otherwise, the bill as it stands in this current form would have serious challenges when it comes to implementation,” he warned. The correction requires Parliament to rescind its decision at the third-reading stage. That would allow a second consideration to address the defective provisions. “So, not much of substance would change,” Mr Agalga said.

His explanation comes amid renewed pressure to complete work on the bill. On Tuesday, Speaker Alban Bagbin warned that he would publicly identify anyone who obstructed the process. Asked about presidential assent, Agalga rejected suggestions that Mahama had changed his position. “It’s Parliament’s work. We have the duty of enacting laws,” he said. He maintained that lawmakers must first resolve the problems they had identified.

“We think that we are the proper forum to correct those anomalies to pave the way for the bill to be transmitted to the president.”