'The Tribunals Bill appears to preempt constitutional review recommendations' - Dr. Osae-Kwapong
Dr. John Osae-Kwapong of CDD-Ghana has criticized the government's decision to pass the Tribunals Bill, 2026, arguing it may preempt ongoing constitutional review recommendations. He expressed concerns regarding the potential for overlapping legal jurisdictions and the negative historical associations of the tribunal system.
Why it matters
The debate touches on the separation of powers and the integrity of the judicial system in Ghana, raising questions about the timing and necessity of the new legislation.
A Research Fellow at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr. John Osae-Kwapong, has questioned the timing of the passage of the Tribunals Bill, 2026.
Parliament on July 16 passed the Tribunals Bill, 2026, introduced by Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Dr. Dominic Ayine.
The legislation seeks to re-establish and operationalize a modernized public tribunal system to reduce court backlogs, speed up the delivery of justice and activate dormant provisions under Articles 126 and 142 of the 1992 Constitution.
Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews' Newsfile programme on Saturday, July 18, Dr. Osae-Kwapong said the decision to revive tribunals raises several concerns, particularly because the recent constitutional review process had reportedly recommended doing away with them.
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