The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) says it will announce its position on the controversial Tribunals Law after its Legal Committee completes its ongoing analysis and research into the legislation.
GBA President Efua Ghartey disclosed this at the Ghana Bar Association Conference 2026/27 in Ada on Monday, September 14.
She said the Legal Committee, headed by Ace Ankomah, had already begun reviewing the law and would make the Association’s position known in due course.
“This Act has attracted significant attention, and the Bar has not been left out. The Bar’s Legal Committee, headed by Ace Ankomah, is seized with this matter, having started analysing and researching this important matter, and shall in due course make its position known,” she said.
Mrs Ghartey said the GBA would not rush to take a position but would subject the legislation to careful legal and constitutional scrutiny.
She said the review would focus on whether the law is consistent with Ghana’s constitutional framework, particularly the jurisdiction given to the tribunals and the authorities responsible for appointing their members.
“However, it is pertinent to note that the Bar shall carefully examine its provisions against constitutional standards from the jurisdiction conferred, the appointing authorities, the mode of arriving at decisions, fair trial standards, independence of the tribunals, and its necessity in this our present time, guided by our history of such tribunals,” Mrs Ghartey said.
She identified the independence of the tribunals as a key issue the Association would consider in its assessment.
Mrs Ghartey said the GBA’s position would be guided by the need to ensure that legislation and institutional arrangements comply with Ghana’s constitutional standards.
She also assured the public that the Association would continue to hold statutory and government institutions accountable to the Constitution.
“Rest assured that the Bar will not relent in its efforts to hold statutory and governmental bodies to the constitutional standards of our country for our common good,” she said.
President John Mahama assented to the controversial Tribunals Bill, 2026, in August despite strong opposition from the Minority in Parliament, organised labour and former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who urged him to “pause and let the nation talk”.
