The Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammi Awuku, has criticised the passage of the Tribunals Bill, 2026, describing the decision to revive regional tribunals as a “tragedy” that threatens the sanctity of Ghana’s judiciary and democracy.
Mr Awuku argued that instead of reintroducing regional tribunals, the government should focus on strengthening existing courts, including the High Court, Circuit Court and District Court, to improve justice delivery.
The Akuapem North MP made the remarks on Eyewitness News on Friday, July 17, following Parliament’s approval of the Bill after its third reading.
“It’s a tragedy. You have the High Court that is handling many of these cases. If you look at the report from the Constitutional Review Commission, it recommended that the regional tribunals be de-established because the High Court has been handling the caseload of the regional tribunals,” he said.
Mr Awuku maintained that resources earmarked for reviving the tribunals would be better used to strengthen the existing court system.
He argued that expanding the jurisdiction of Circuit Courts and improving the capacity of High Courts would provide a more effective solution to challenges within the justice delivery system.
“Today, every step the NDC takes makes it very scary for us to believe that you are going to have a fair trial if you seek redress in court. I am worried about the sanctity of our judiciary and the resilience of our democracy,” he stated.
The lawmaker also referenced Ghana’s political history, arguing that regional tribunals remain associated with a period many Ghanaians remember for alleged abuses of justice and the denial of fair trial rights.
He questioned the government’s decision to revive the tribunals, insisting that successive administrations had been reluctant to fully operationalise them because of their historical significance.
“I don’t know what it is with this government that all of a sudden, they are fixated on resuscitating the regional tribunals. It remains a dark spot in our nation’s history. We are driving ourselves towards a situation where people may begin to feel they are not being listened to, and I do not think that is good for our democracy,” he added.
Parliament passed the Tribunals Bill, 2026, after it successfully completed its third reading. The legislation seeks to reintroduce regional tribunals under a revised legal framework aimed at strengthening the administration of justice and improving access to legal remedies.
Meanwhile, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has assured Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that Parliament will not hesitate to revisit provisions of the Tribunals Bill, 2026, if the need arises.
