The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has laid the Tribunal Bill 2026 in Parliament to reintroduce public tribunals as part of efforts to strengthen the administration of justice and improve access to courts.
The Bill, if passed, will establish a reformed tribunal system to operate alongside the traditional courts, with clear constitutional backing, oversight structures and safeguards for due process and human rights.
The Bill seeks to operationalise provisions under Article 126 of the Constitution, which provides for tribunals within Ghana’s judicial system but which have largely become defunct over the years.
According to the Attorney-General, the reforms are intended to address gaps in the legal framework, reduce case backlog in the courts, and expand access to justice, while allowing citizen participation in adjudication.
The proposed law will establish a two-tier structure comprising Regional and District Tribunals, which will form part of the judiciary under the supervision of the Judicial Council and a proposed Tribunal Oversight Committee.
Under the Bill, Regional Tribunals will have concurrent original jurisdiction with the High Court over selected criminal matters, including economic crimes, narcotics offences, tax-related offences, customs violations, and cases involving loss of state funds or property.
District Tribunals will also have concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts in specified criminal matters, excluding offences such as treason, capital offences, and cases triable on indictment.
The Bill, however, excludes constitutional interpretation cases under Article 130, human rights violations, and any matters expressly excluded by law.
It also outlines guiding principles for tribunal operations, including fairness, transparency, efficiency, independence, and respect for fundamental human rights, with decisions subject to appellate review.
The proposal further sets out governance arrangements covering appointment, discipline, retirement and removal of tribunal members, as well as a code of conduct to guide operations.
The Attorney-General said the reforms are designed to address historical concerns about public tribunals by ensuring a modern system anchored in due process and constitutional safeguards.
The Bill has been given its first reading and referred to Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs and Judiciary Committees for consideration. Last week, the Attorney-General met the joint Committee to deliberate on the proposals.
