Ghana’s Parliament has adjourned without reconsidering the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2026, despite an assurance that the legislation would be revisited before the end of the session.
The House adjourned sine die on Friday, bringing the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament to a close. A motion seeking to rescind Parliament’s earlier decision on the anti-LGBTQ bill had been included on the Order Paper, but lawmakers did not adopt it before the sitting ended.
Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin had told the National Chief Imam, Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, on Thursday that Parliament would reconsider and pass the Bill before the adjournment.
The failure to take the motion forward means the legislation was not revisited before Parliament went into recess.
Despite the development, lawmakers approved a number of other significant Bills during the meeting, which ran from May to July 2026.
On the final day, Parliament ratified six mining lease agreements between the government and six mining companies. The agreements are intended to generate socio-economic benefits for communities in the affected areas and increase revenue for the state.
The Minority Caucus strongly opposed the ratification of the agreements.
Among the legislation passed was the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026. The Bill guarantees cocoa farmers at least 70% of the Free on Board export price through the Ghana Cocoa Board, also known as COCOBOD.
Parliament also approved the Excise Bill, 2026, which removes excise taxes on locally produced fruit juices. The measure is designed to reduce prices for consumers, promote healthier consumption and support Ghana’s agro-processing sector.
The Customs Bill, 2026, was passed to create an updated legal framework for customs administration. Its provisions are aimed at bringing existing customs laws together, supporting international trade, improving border security and strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation.
The Tribunals Bill, 2026, also received approval. It provides for the creation of Regional and District Tribunals, with the stated aim of helping to reduce the backlog of cases in Ghana’s courts.
Other legislation passed included the National Defence University Ghana Bill, 2026, and the Community Service Bill, 2026. The latter introduces community service as an alternative to custodial sentences for people convicted of specified categories of offences.
Parliament ended its business for the meeting after completing debate on the Mid-Year Review of the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. The review was presented by the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
According to the parliamentary record, 12 Bills were passed during the Second Meeting. They include the Human Sexual Rights and Family Bill, 2025, recorded as having been passed on 29 May 2026; the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Bill, 2025, passed on 25 June; and the Maritime and Related Offences legislation, passed on 30 June.
The Community Service Bill, 2026, was recorded as passed on 8 July, while the National Defence University, Ghana Bill, 2026, was passed on 17 July. The Tribunals Bill, 2026, and Customs Bill, 2026, were both recorded as having been passed on 30 July.
The remaining legislation listed was the Excise Bill, 2026, passed on 30 July; the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, both passed on 29 July; the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, passed on 30 July; and the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Bill, 2026, passed on 31 July.
