Parliamentary Affairs Analyst, Clement Akorloh, has criticised the first Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor over his handling of proceedings leading to the passage of the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, widely known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
Speaking in an interview on ABC In The Morning on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, Akorloh questioned the manner in which the bill was handled in the absence of Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin.
According to him, the developments surrounding the passage of the bill raise serious concerns about the conduct of the presiding officer at the time.
“It speaks volumes about the competence of the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, who was the presiding speaker at the time,” Akorloh stated.
He further argued that Ahiafor’s role in supervising the proceedings had come under scrutiny following allegations of procedural irregularities.
“His competence comes in question that he sat down and oversaw a shoddy work being done on the bill” he said.
Akorloh also warned that the controversy could create long-term implications for parliamentary decision-making, especially in situations where the Speaker is absent.
“What it will do is that, in the future it will be problematic for the house to take decision in the absence of the speaker,” he noted.
“Anytime a decision would have to be taken, they would have to wait until the speaker is in before decisions are taking”,” he added.
His comments come amid growing debate over the process that led to the passage of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill and calls for Parliament to reconsider aspects of the legislation following concerns over procedure and quorum.
