Ghana Parliament Debates Tribunals Bill: Heated Discussions

Parliament has adopted the Tribunals Bill 2026, despite a walk-out by the Minority Caucus.

Parliament passed the bill last Thursday, with more than 50 clauses, after a heated debate. The bill aims to address gaps in the country's legal framework on tribunals, provide a clear constitutional and statutory basis for their operation, and promote the efficient administration of justice.

The bill was laid before Parliament on June 26, 2026, by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, on behalf of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dominic Ayine. It was subsequently referred to the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee for consideration before returning to the House for approval.

The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, opposed the bill, arguing that there was no justification for creating additional judicial structures when the existing court system was functioning effectively. He maintained that Ghana's current judicial architecture was not broken and did not require a parallel system.

However, the Majority members rejected the proposal, insisting that the bill would strengthen the justice delivery system without reviving concerns associated with past public tribunals. The bill was subsequently passed by the House, with 135 votes to 16.

Ahead of its passage, Afenyo-Markin urged the House to delete Clause 4, which provides for the establishment of Regional and District Tribunals. However, the proposal was rejected, and the Minority Leader challenged the decision, prompting the Majority Leader to suspend proceedings for several hours to allow for consultations among leadership.

Speaking to journalists after the walk-out, Afenyo-Markin said the Minority's decision was taken because it had become clear that the Majority was unwilling to accommodate opposing views. He said the Majority had indicated it would rely on its numerical strength to pass the bill regardless of dissenting opinions.

Afenyo-Markin stated, "Ghana's current judicial architecture — comprising the district, circuit and high courts, as well as the Court of Appeal was not broken and did not require a parallel system." He also said, "the Majority had indicated it would rely on its numerical strength to pass the bill regardless of dissenting opinions."

The bill was passed after a headcount was conducted at the request of the Minority Leader, and the proposal to delete Clause 4 was defeated. The Minority Caucus subsequently walked out of the chamber, and the bill was subsequently passed by the House.

The adoption of the Tribunals Bill 2026 has significant implications for Ghana's justice delivery system. As the bill aims to promote the efficient administration of justice, it is likely to have a positive impact on the country's judicial architecture. However, the walk-out by the Minority Caucus has raised concerns about the level of opposition to the bill and the Majority's willingness to accommodate dissenting views.

Source: Ghanaian Times