The Minority in Parliament has called for the removal of Clause 4 of the Tribunals Bill, 2026, arguing that the provision could complicate Ghana’s judicial system instead of improving it.
The controversial clause proposes the establishment of Regional and District Tribunals, with Sub-clause 2 guaranteeing the independence of both institutions in the discharge of their duties.
Speaking during parliamentary debate on the Bill, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the creation of a separate tribunal structure could create uncertainty within the country’s justice delivery system.
According to him, introducing additional judicial bodies alongside the existing court system risks causing overlap and confusion in the administration of justice.
He maintained that while judicial reforms are necessary, the establishment of Regional and District Tribunals under the proposed legislation may not achieve the intended objective of improving access to justice.
For this reason, the Minority is urging Parliament to remove Clause 4 from the Bill before it is passed into law.
However, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Dr Dominic Ayine strongly disagreed with the Minority’s position, insisting that the concerns raised were based on a misunderstanding of the Bill’s provisions.
Addressing Parliament before the bill was passed, Dr Ayine defended the proposed legislation, stating that the tribunal system is an important component of the government’s judicial reform agenda.
He argued that the new tribunals are intended to improve the efficiency of the justice system by helping to reduce delays in the disposal of cases and expanding access to justice across the country.
The Attorney-General further explained that the proposed tribunals would operate within Ghana’s constitutional framework and would not undermine or duplicate the functions of the existing courts.
He stressed that adequate legal safeguards had been included in the Bill to ensure the independence and proper functioning of the tribunals.
Dr Ayine urged Members of Parliament to support the legislation, describing it as a key reform that would strengthen Ghana’s justice system and improve the delivery of justice to citizens.
