The National Association of Concerned Clergy (NACOC) has called on Parliament and the Executive to clarify the status of the LGBTQ Bill and provide the public with a clear update on the way forward.
In a press statement, the association expressed concern over the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the legislation, insisting that an issue of such national importance should not be left without clear communication to the Ghanaian public.
The bill, officially known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, was passed by Parliament in February 2024 but lapsed without presidential assent following the dissolution of the Eighth Parliament in January 2025. It was subsequently reintroduced in the Ninth Parliament and passed again on May 29, 2026.
However, questions over parliamentary procedures and constitutional compliance have delayed further action. President John Dramani Mahama has indicated that the bill requires legal scrutiny before a decision on presidential assent can be made, while Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has called for the House to reconsider the legislation in accordance with parliamentary rules. Parliament adjourned on July 31, 2026, without reconsidering the bill.
Against this background, NACOC said citizens, religious leaders, traditional authorities, civil society organisations and other stakeholders deserve transparency, accountability and meaningful engagement from their elected representatives.
The association said it recognised the importance of faith, family values, moral responsibility, constitutional governance and the protection of human dignity.
It therefore urged Parliament to clarify the outstanding legislative and procedural concerns surrounding the bill and determine the appropriate next steps in accordance with the Constitution.
NACOC also called on the President and the Executive to clearly communicate their position on the legislation, including the legal considerations and constitutional options available to them.
“Leadership requires not only making decisions but also explaining those decisions to the people,” the statement said.
The association further called for a transparent, lawful and responsible national process that would allow the concerns of religious communities and other stakeholders to be heard.
It emphasised that discussions on the bill must be conducted peacefully, without threats, violence or the dehumanisation of any person.
The statement, signed by Rev. Osahene Kwame Sefa Frimpong, Secretary-General of NACOC, urged Parliament and the Executive to act with clarity and constitutional responsibility, reaffirming the association’s commitment to moral accountability, national peace and the protection of human dignity.
