Parliament has passed the Public Tribunal Bill, 2026, to establish a legal framework for the operation of tribunals in Ghana, despite opposition from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and a boycott by the Minority Caucus.
The objective of the Bill is to provide for the establishment, jurisdiction, composition, and operation of tribunals in accordance with the Constitution, and to establish the Tribunal Oversight Committee.
The Bill was presented to the House by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, on behalf of the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, on June 26, 2026.
It was later referred to the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee and the Judiciary Committee for detailed review before consideration. However, before the passage of the Bill, the Minority Caucus walked out of the Chamber of Parliament.
The First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, presided over the passage of the Tribunals Bill, 2026, on the floor of Parliament. It is expected that President John Dramani Mahama will assent to it before it becomes law.
Meanwhile, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, reaffirmed that the passage of the Bill was a major promise of the NDC during the 2024 elections.
“NDC remains committed to the truth to the people of Ghana as the Tribunals Bill has come to stay,” he said.
The Tribunals Bill is intended to strengthen access to justice, protect the rights of citizens, promote due process, and improve the efficient administration of justice, particularly in matters requiring specialised or expeditious determination.
