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🇬🇭 Ghana /Elections & Politics

Bawumia Urges President Mahama to Reject Tribunals Bill, Citing Justice Concerns

From Daily Graphic · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Context piece
  • Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia urges President Mahama not to assent to the new Tribunals Bill, citing concerns about its potential to weaponize justice.
  • He highlights that a government-appointed committee recommended abolishing existing tribunals, yet Parliament rushed the bill without public consultation.
  • Bawumia argues that strengthening existing courts, not creating a parallel justice system, is the solution to judicial congestion.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, flagbearer of Ghana's New Patriotic Party, has issued a strong appeal to President John Mahama, urging him to withhold assent from the recently passed Tribunals Bill. Bawumia contends that the bill, if enacted, could fundamentally undermine Ghana's justice delivery system, erode public confidence in the judiciary, and pose a threat to democracy.

Mr. President - Do not sign this Bill. Pause, and let the nation talk.

— Dr. Mahamudu BawumiaUrging President Mahama to reconsider the Tribunals Bill.

"Mr. President - Do not sign this Bill. Pause, and let the nation talk," Bawumia implored. He emphasized that this is not a partisan issue, pointing to the Trades Union Congress, representing millions of Ghanaian workers, which has publicly called for the bill's withdrawal. The TUC warned that the bill, in its current form, could become a "potent tool for weaponising justice delivery."

Bawumia also criticized the government's own process, noting that President Mahama established a Constitutional Review Committee whose report, submitted last December, recommended the abolition of existing Regional Tribunals. Despite this, he stated, Parliament has hastily legislated in the opposite direction before the report has even been published. "Publish the report first," Bawumia demanded.

The Trades Union Congress, the voice of millions of Ghanaian workers, has called for the Bill to be withdrawn altogether, warning that in its current form it could become a potent tool for weaponising justice delivery.

— Dr. Mahamudu BawumiaHighlighting opposition from organized labor to the Tribunals Bill.

Drawing on historical precedent, Bawumia reminded Ghanaians of past abuses associated with tribunals, particularly concerning their use in judging criminal matters, even when panels included non-lawyers. He argued that while court congestion is a problem, the solution lies in bolstering the existing judicial infrastructure with more judges, courtrooms, and digitization, rather than establishing a "second system of justice."

Publish the report first.

— Dr. Mahamudu BawumiaDemanding the release of the Constitutional Review Committee's report before proceeding with the bill.

With the ruling party holding a significant majority in Parliament, Bawumia acknowledged their legislative power but stressed a corresponding duty of restraint. He asserted that history will judge the law not by the number of votes it received, but by its reflection of the "best desires of a broad section of the Ghanaian society." His call to action is for the President to withhold assent and initiate genuine national dialogue involving legal bodies, organized labor, civil society, and political parties.

Our courts are congested, yes. But the answer to congested courts is to strengthen the courts: more judges, more courtrooms and digitised processes. It is not to build a second system of justice beside the one the Constitution already gives us.

— Dr. Mahamudu BawumiaArguing for strengthening existing courts instead of creating a new tribunal system.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Graphic in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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