Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, the Member of Parliament for Ho West, has vowed not to return to Parliament if the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill (anti-LGBTQ bill) is not assented to.
According to the Ho West MP, he has a moral principle to the next generation’s unborn.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on October 29, 2025, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah stated, “If it’s not assented to, I will not come back to Parliament again. This is a live studio, and I’m saying it. I’ve even told my colleagues and everybody that if it’s not passed and assented to, I’ll not come back. What do I come to do? If I don’t have a moral principle to my generation’s unborn, then what am I doing?”
“That is my whole life. We must defend our principles. Some of us are in Parliament not just for politics but for the moral and social advancement of this country,” he indicated.
He asked, “He has never come to us as sponsors to propose any amendment or even hold discussions on it. I’m surprised that the same person now stands in Parliament advocating for the bill. What kind of double tongue is this?”
“We meet as eight members to agree on how to go about this business. When he brought those amendments, he lost miserably,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader in Parliament, has revealed that President John Dramani Mahama is fully prepared to assent to the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
He revealed that President John Mahama told him he would not hesitate to sign an anti-LBGTQ+ bill if parliament passes the bill.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on October 28, 2025, during a debate on the anti-LGBTQ bill, which has been reintroduced in the House, the Majority leader stated, “I’m told that the bill was never transmitted to the Presidency. So, if the bill was not transmitted to the Presidency to be assented to after it had been passed by this House, Mr Speaker, it creates quite a legal issue”.
“… Let me give every assurance that we are ready to pass this bill as a House on this side. And let me also give you assurance that I have personally spoken with the president and he has no hesitation to sign if this Parliament should pass the bill, unlike his predecessor, who did everything to not give assent to this bill”.
Including threatening parliament, I am surprised that a sitting president has threatened the legislature, and nothing has been done about it”, he added.
Also, Speaker Bagbin, on the floor of Parliament, explained that the bill, which was first introduced during the Eighth Parliament, had to be reintroduced in the Ninth Parliament.
He detailed that parliamentary procedures do not allow for the automatic transfer of unpassed legislation between sessions.
Speaker Bagbin highlighted that the legislative process encountered some setbacks with the former president’s refusal to assent to the bill, and also debates over whether the current administration should adopt it as a government-sponsored bill.
However, the Speaker explained that both the Majority and Minority sides have shown strong bipartisan support.
He further indicated that President Mahama is willing to give assent once it is passed.
Alban Bagbin stated, “We understand the expectations and the passion surrounding this bill”.
“What we are doing is to ensure that when it is passed, it will stand the test of time and be implemented effectively.”
Watch the video below:
I will not return to parliament if the Anti-LGBTQ bill is not passed and assented to – Emmanuel Bedzra.#PMExpress pic.twitter.com/jUH1Vz45aQ
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) October 30, 2025