By Valentia Tetteh
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has raised concerns over whether key parliamentary procedures were fully adhered to during the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, warning that Parliament must ensure strict compliance with its Standing Orders when considering legislation of national importance.
Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Mr. Bagbin drew attention to Standing Orders 170, 171 and 172, which govern the final stages of consideration and passage of bills.
According to him, concerns have emerged regarding whether Members of Parliament had sufficient opportunity to review the final version of the bill after amendments were made during the consideration stage before proceeding to the third reading.
“The purpose underlying Orders 170, 171 and 172 is clear. These provisions exist to ensure that Members are afforded a meaningful opportunity to know with certainty the exact text of a bill upon which they are called to take a final legislative decision,” he stated.
Mr. Bagbin explained that Order 172 requires amendments adopted during the consideration stage to be accurately captured and incorporated into the bill, while Order 173 mandates the Clerk to Parliament to make the amended version available to Members before the third reading where practicable.
He further noted that Order 171 provides an additional safeguard by allowing Members to move for a second consideration of a bill or parts of it before the final vote is taken.
The Speaker also referenced Order 172(1), which states that a bill should not proceed to third reading until at least one sitting day has elapsed after the consideration stage.
“Where a bill has passed through the consideration stage, the third reading shall not be taken until at least one sitting day has elapsed,” he quoted.
Mr. Bagbin noted that although Parliament has the authority under Standing Order 3 to suspend its rules with the leave of the House, that procedure was not invoked during proceedings on the bill.
“While the House possesses the power under Order 3 to suspend any standing order with the leave of the House, it did not do so this time,” he said.
The Speaker disclosed that questions have been raised about whether the final text of the bill, incorporating all approved amendments, was available to Members in a form that enabled them to fully appreciate its content before taking a final decision.
“In the aftermath of the proceedings of the House on Friday, concerns have been raised as to whether the final text of the bill incorporating all amendments agreed to during the consideration stage was available to Members,” he stated.
Mr. Bagbin stressed that procedural integrity is essential to the legitimacy of legislation.
“The legitimacy, credibility and enduring authority of any law depend not only on the objective sought to be achieved but also on the integrity of the process by which the law is enacted. Procedural law is as equally important as substantive law,” he emphasized.
He urged Members to familiarize themselves with the Standing Orders and uphold the dignity and procedural sanctity of Parliament in the conduct of legislative business.
