Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to withhold assent to the recently passed Tribunals Bill until it undergoes broad national consultation.
Speaking during a national address on Sunday, July 19, 2026, the former Vice President argued that legislation with significant implications for Ghana’s justice system should not become law without extensive engagement with key stakeholders.
He said the government should consult the judiciary, the Ghana Bar Association, legal practitioners, organised labour, civil society organisations and political parties before taking a final decision on the bill.
According to Dr Bawumia, reforms to the country’s justice system must be guided by national consensus rather than the numerical strength of a parliamentary majority.
He stressed that the judiciary is a vital pillar of Ghana’s democracy and that any attempt to alter its structure should be undertaken with transparency, inclusiveness and careful consideration.
Making a direct appeal to President Mahama, Dr Bawumia urged him to delay assent to the bill and instead initiate nationwide dialogue.
“The bill will soon be transmitted to the President for his assent and I have one respectful request of President Mahama. Mr President, do not assent to this bill. Pause and let the nation ponder and deliberate on this very important matter,” he said.
Dr Bawumia noted that his appeal was not politically motivated, pointing to concerns already raised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) over the proposed legislation.
He said the TUC had warned that the bill, in its current form, could be used to undermine the administration of justice.
The NPP flagbearer also referenced recommendations made by the Constitution Review Committee, established by President Mahama, which proposed removing regional tribunals from the Constitution on the grounds that the High Court has long assumed their workload.
He further called on the government to organise an inclusive consultative process involving all relevant stakeholders before the legislation is allowed to take effect.
According to him, the engagement should include the Ghana Bar Association, other legal professional bodies, organised labour, civil society groups, political parties and the judiciary.
Dr Bawumia maintained that justice belongs to all Ghanaians and that any law seeking to reshape the country’s judicial architecture should be based on broad national agreement rather than political numbers in Parliament.
His remarks come amid growing public debate over the Tribunals Bill, with several organisations and legal experts expressing concerns about its potential implications for Ghana’s justice delivery system.
