Parliament failed Ghanaians by not using two-thirds majority to pass LGBTQ bill – Iddrisu

Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has stated that Parliament failed Ghanaians by not using its constitutional power to pass the LGBTQ bill into law after it was not assented to by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Speaking during a debate in a video sighted by GhanaWeb on April 16, 2026, he explained that although Parliament passed the bill and forwarded it to the former president, it did not take the necessary constitutional steps to ensure it became law.

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According to him, Parliament had the authority to act but failed to exercise it.

“If Parliament fails you, it must admit that it has failed you. I want to be careful, as I do not wish to be in contempt. Go and read Article 106 carefully. Parliament passed the LGBTQ bill and sent it to then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, but he did not sign it,” he said.

Haruna Iddrisu further argued that the President was constitutionally required to either assent to the bill or return it to Parliament within a stipulated period.

He maintained that failure to act within that timeframe amounted to a breach of the Constitution.

“Article 106 states that when Parliament passes a bill, it must be assented to by the President within seven days. If Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo did not assent to it within that period and also failed to return it to Parliament, then, in my honest academic view, he was in breach of the Constitution,” he added.

The Member of Parliament for Tamale South stressed that even in such circumstances, Parliament had the constitutional backing to override the President’s inaction but failed to do so.

“The same Constitution provides that where the President refuses to assent, Parliament can pass the bill into law by a two-thirds majority. We failed Ghana by not doing that. There was no need to return to the President,” he argued.

According to him, both sides of the House demonstrated support for the bill and had the required numbers to pass it, but ultimately did not act.

“Parliament showed commitment, as both the NDC and NPP supported it. We had the two-thirds majority required. Many expressed support, although the debates revealed differing views among members,” he noted.

He added that Parliament must always act in line with the will of the people it represents.

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“Parliament must respect the sovereign will of the Ghanaian people. We are not acting for ourselves but for those we serve. It is their will and desire, and we must uphold it because they are the sovereign,” he stated.

Hon. Haruna Iddrisu makes salient remarks about the brouhaha surrounding LGBTQ. pic.twitter.com/SWxoQeNBaA

— Muhammad Yaasiin (@Hajjyass70) April 15, 2026

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