The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has urged the government to halt the passage of the Tribunal Bill, 2026, warning that it undermines the ongoing constitutional review process and risks exposing Ghana’s justice system to political interference. Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, July 16, TUC Deputy General Secretary Dr. Kwabena Nyarko Otoo argued that the government should first publish the Constitutional Review Committee’s (CRC) report and its official response before pursuing legislation to reintroduce regional and district tribunals.
He noted that the TUC actively participated in the review process by submitting a memorandum and appearing before the committee, where it recommended the removal of regional tribunals from the Constitution. According to him, the CRC accepted this proposal and formally recommended their removal. “We are surprised that even before government makes known its position on the recommendation, it has gone to Parliament to establish or reactivate the tribunal system again,” Dr. Otoo said.
Dr Otoo argued that once the constitutional review process had begun, all proposed constitutional reforms should be addressed within that broader framework rather than through separate legislation. “Our expectation was that at least government would publish the full report. Government will then stake out its own position on the recommendations, and then it will form a basis for citizens’ engagement, for debate, and everything, so that all of us carry the constitutional review process to its logical conclusion,” he stated.
Dr. Kwabena Nyarko Otoo criticized the government’s decision to table the Tribunal Bill in Parliament before publishing the Constitutional Review Committee’s report, arguing that the move denies citizens and stakeholder groups the chance to properly scrutinise the proposals. “So first of all, we are asking government, please, let’s cease fire. Let’s halt the process. Let government publish the entire report of the Constitutional Review Committee. Let government bring out its own position. Then we can take it from there,” he said.
Beyond procedural concerns, Dr. Otoo questioned the rationale for reviving the tribunal system, insisting that Ghana’s existing courts should be strengthened instead. He stressed that the country’s history with tribunals makes the issue particularly sensitive and cautioned against reopening old debates without broad public consensus. The TUC also expressed reservations about provisions in the Bill relating to tribunal appointments.
Dr Otoo argued that allowing the President to appoint tribunal chairpersons and involving Regional Coordinating Councils and District Assemblies in appointing panel members creates the potential for political influence over the judiciary.
“We are concerned about the potential for politicisation of the judiciary system,” he said, adding that Ghana’s constitutional reform agenda had already identified the President’s extensive appointment powers as an area requiring reform. He stressed that laws should be designed with future governments in mind rather than current political actors.
“We are making laws for the future. Between the two of us, we know how the NPP and the NDC have done appointments whenever they get the opportunity to do so,” he said. Dr Otoo disclosed that the TUC intends to formally write to the Speaker of Parliament to express its concerns and urge lawmakers to suspend consideration of the Bill until the constitutional review process is completed.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, recently laid the Tribunal Bill, 2026 before Parliament, saying it is intended to improve access to justice, reduce case backlogs and reintroduce tribunals with constitutional safeguards and stronger oversight. The Bill has since been referred to Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs and Judiciary Committees for consideration.
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Source: Abigail Arthur
