President Mahama signs Tribunals Act into law despite opposition
President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday signed the Tribunals Bill, 2026, into law, paving the way for the return of Regional and District Tribunals in Ghana.
The signing took place at the Presidency in Accra, where the President assented to ten bills passed by Parliament during its last meeting.
The Tribunals Act gives effect to Article 126 of the 1992 Constitution, empowering the Chief Justice to establish Regional Tribunals to handle specific categories of criminal and civil offences.
According to the Presidency, the law is intended to modernize the justice system, reduce case backlogs in the traditional courts, and ensure swift dispensation of justice.
The assent comes after weeks of public debate and opposition.
In Parliament, the Minority opposed the bill, arguing that Ghana’s current justice architecture is not broken. On July 16, a motion by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to delete Clause 4, which establishes the tribunals, was defeated by 135 votes to 16.
Outside Parliament, former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia had publicly appealed to the President not to sign the bill, urging for broader national consultation. Organised Labour also raised concerns that the law could be weaponised.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has, however, assured that the new tribunals will operate strictly within the confines of the 1992 Constitution, with full safeguards for human rights and due process.
The Tribunals Act is one of ten laws assented to by the President. The others are the Customs Act, Community Service Act, Maritime and Related Offences Act, National Defence University Act, Income Tax (Amendment) Act, Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, Ghana Cocoa Board Act, Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, and the Excise Act.
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