Former Vice President urges President to halt assent, publish Constitution Review report and allow nationwide consultations
Former Vice President and the New Patriotic Party’s 2028 presidential flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has mounted a strong challenge to the recently approved Public Tribunals Bill, 2026, calling on President John Dramani Mahama to withhold his signature and open the legislation to broad national consultation before it becomes law.
In a statement issued on Sunday, July 19, Dr Bawumia described the Bill as one of the most consequential justice reforms in recent years, warning that its impact on Ghana’s judicial system, democratic governance and the independence of the courts demands national consensus rather than the weight of a parliamentary majority.
“I have one respectful request of President Mahama. Mr President, do not sign this Bill. Pause, and let the nation talk,” Dr Bawumia appealed.
The former Vice President criticised Parliament’s decision to fast track the legislation after waiving the mandatory one day interval between the consideration stage and the third reading, arguing that the process denied key stakeholders sufficient opportunity to scrutinise a Bill with far reaching constitutional implications.
According to him, the legislation was pushed through despite objections from the Minority Caucus and organised labour, particularly the Trades Union Congress, which has called for the Bill to be withdrawn entirely over fears that it could become a tool for political abuse.
“This is not a partisan request. The Trades Union Congress, representing millions of Ghanaian workers, has warned that the Bill in its current form could weaponise justice delivery. These are the concerns of Ghanaian workers, not of any political party,” he stated.
Dr Bawumia also questioned why Parliament proceeded with the Bill before publishing the findings of the Constitution Review Committee established by President Mahama.
He noted that the Committee reportedly recommended removing Regional Tribunals from the Constitution because the High Court has effectively assumed their responsibilities.
“The President established the Constitution Review Committee and it submitted its report last December. The Committee recommended removing Regional Tribunals from the Constitution because the High Court has long taken over their workload. Yet the report has not been published. Before Ghanaians have even seen its recommendations, Parliament has legislated in the opposite direction. Mr President, publish the report first,” he urged.
Expressing concern over the proposed structure of the tribunals, Dr Bawumia warned that allowing panels comprising both lawyers and non lawyers to hear criminal matters risks reviving painful memories of Ghana’s tribunal era.
“Ghanaians remember tribunals and they remember what was done in their name. Yes, our courts are congested, but the solution is to strengthen the courts through more judges, additional courtrooms and digital reforms rather than creating another justice system alongside the constitutional courts,” he argued.
He further cautioned that although the National Democratic Congress commands one of the largest parliamentary majorities in the Fourth Republic, such numerical strength should not be used to force through contentious legislation.
“Not everything that can be passed should be passed. The greater the majority, the greater the responsibility for restraint. History will not judge how many votes passed a law. It will judge whether the law reflected the aspirations of the Ghanaian people.”
Dr Bawumia proposed that President Mahama suspend assent to the Bill and instead convene extensive consultations involving the Ghana Bar Association, the Judiciary, organised labour, civil society organisations and political parties.
“Justice belongs to no government and no political party. It belongs to the Ghanaian people. A law that fundamentally reshapes the architecture of justice must be built on national consensus and not on numbers in Parliament.”
He also called on the President to activate the constitutional consultative process through the Council of State under Articles 90 and 106 of the 1992 Constitution.
“Mr President, the pen is in your hand. Use it, not to sign this Bill, but to invite the nation into a meaningful conversation through the Council of State.”
The Public Tribunals Bill, 2026, was passed by Parliament in the early hours of Friday after lawmakers approved a motion to waive the mandatory waiting period between the consideration stage and third reading, allowing the Bill to be approved on the same day.
The legislation seeks to establish a renewed legal framework for public tribunals, with the Government maintaining that it will improve access to justice, reduce the growing backlog of cases and strengthen the administration of justice. The Bill will become law only after receiving presidential assent.
Its passage, however, has generated intense political and legal debate. The Minority staged a walkout during proceedings, insisting that the legislation creates a parallel justice system that is inconsistent with the spirit of the 1992 Constitution. Organised labour, led by the Trades Union Congress, has also opposed the Bill, warning that it could be susceptible to abuse and calling for its withdrawal.
Government has firmly defended the legislation, arguing that the proposed tribunals are fully anchored in the Constitution and will operate within established constitutional safeguards. Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has maintained that the tribunals are designed to complement the existing courts, accelerate justice delivery and will bear no resemblance to the tribunal systems that attracted widespread criticism during earlier periods of Ghana’s political history.
