Former Vice President and the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2028 presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has cautioned against the proposed Tribunals Bill. He warned that it could establish a parallel justice system alongside Ghana’s constitutionally mandated courts.
Addressing the nation in a statement on the controversial legislation, Dr Bawumia argued that while Ghana’s judicial system faces genuine challenges, creating additional tribunal structures is not the appropriate solution.
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According to him, reforms should focus on strengthening the existing courts rather than introducing institutions that could create a parallel justice system and undermine the country’s constitutional framework.
Separate justice structure
Dr Bawumia said the proposed Tribunals Bill risks creating a second system of justice, raising constitutional and legal concerns.
He questioned provisions that could permit panels made up of individuals who are not legally trained to determine criminal cases.
According to the former Vice President, criminal trials require judges with strong legal expertise to safeguard fairness, due process and the constitutional rights of accused persons.
He warned that introducing non-lawyers into criminal adjudication could weaken public confidence in Ghana’s justice system.
“Any reforms to our justice system must strengthen—not weaken—the rule of law and public confidence in our courts,” he stressed.
While acknowledging that Ghana’s courts are burdened by delays and growing case backlogs, Dr Bawumia maintained that the solution lies in expanding the capacity of the judiciary.
He proposed the appointment of more judges, construction of additional courtrooms and accelerated digitisation of judicial processes to improve efficiency.
“Our courts are congested, yes,” he stated.
“The answer to congested courts is to strengthen the courts: more judges, more courtrooms and digitised processes.”
He insisted that investing in the existing judicial system would improve access to justice without creating what he described as a competing judicial structure.
“It is not to build a second system of justice beside the one the Constitution already gives us,” he added.
Remember history
Dr Bawumia also appealed to Ghanaians to reflect on the country’s historical experience with tribunals before embracing the proposed reforms.
He noted that tribunals remain a sensitive subject in Ghana’s political and judicial history, urging lawmakers to proceed with caution.
“Consider, finally, history,” he said.
“Ghanaians remember tribunals, and we remember what was done in their name.”
According to him, any attempt to revive or expand tribunal structures that could introduce a parallel justice system must be carefully examined to ensure they strengthen democracy, judicial independence and the protection of fundamental rights.
The former Vice President concluded that Ghana’s judicial reforms should reinforce the existing constitutional courts rather than establish alternative structures.
He maintained that modernising the judiciary through increased investment, improved infrastructure and digital transformation would deliver faster justice while preserving constitutional safeguards.
Dr Bawumia said protecting judicial independence and strengthening the rule of law should remain the guiding principles of any reform to Ghana’s criminal justice system.