The Chairman of Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, Shaibu Mahama has described former President Akufo-Addo’s decision not to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2021, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ bill as a blessing in disguise.

According to the Daboya Mankarigu MP, the development presents the 9th Parliament with a chance to review the bill’s provisions and ensure that the rights of individuals are protected.

He made the statement in his opening remarks at a stakeholder engagement on the anti-LGBTQ bill.

"This bill was introduced sometime back. With the passage of time, many other things would have happened, many events would have changed stuff. For us it is a blessing in disguise.

"So, if there were some clauses that were missed out in considering the last sitting of Parliament before Parliament elapses, we have the opportunity of incorporating, debating, amending or reshaping the bill," he noted.

However, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli proposed that the bill be passed in its current form, arguing that it had already gained public acceptance after being approved by the 8th Parliament.