The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to refrain from giving his assent to the recently passed Tribunals Bill.
He contends that such a crucial piece of legislation should only be enacted following extensive national consultations with key stakeholders.
In his address to the nation on Sunday, July 19, Dr. Bawumia expressed his apprehension regarding the bill’s passage and appealed to the President to halt the assent process to facilitate broader engagement with groups that have a direct stake in Ghana’s justice system.
The former Vice President emphasized that laws with significant implications for the country’s judicial framework should be developed through consensus rather than relying solely on parliamentary majorities.
He asserted that involving pertinent professional bodies, civil society organizations, labor groups, and political parties would foster public confidence in the legislation and ensure that any reforms align with the collective interests of Ghanaians.
Dr. Bawumia underscored the importance of the judiciary as a fundamental pillar of Ghana’s democracy, stating that any efforts to modify the framework governing justice administration should be approached with caution, transparency, and inclusivity.
Consequently, he urged President Mahama to initiate a thorough national dialogue prior to taking any further action on the bill.
“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.
“This is not a partisan request. The Trades Union Congress and the voice of millions of Ghanaian workers have called for the bill to be withdrawn, warning that in its current form, it could become a potent tool for weaponising justice delivery.
“Those are the words of Ghanaian workers, not of any political party. Consider also the government’s own process. The president established the Constitution Review Committee and it recommended removing regional tribunals from the constitution because the High Court has long carried their case loads.” Politics
“My call is simple and constructive, withhold your assent. Convene genuine national engagement. Invite the Ghana Bar Association and other lawyer groups, Organised Labour, CSOs and the political parties including my own and we will come in good faith and consult the judiciary itself.
“Justice belongs to no government and no party, it belongs to the Ghanaian people and a law that reshapes the architecture of justice should rest on national consensus and not a headcount.
“Mr. President, the pen is in your handy, use it not to assent to this bill but write an invitation to the nation.”
