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The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on the government to suspend the passage of the Tribunal Bill, 2026, arguing that the proposed legislation could undermine Ghana’s ongoing constitutional review process and expose the judiciary to political interference.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, July 16, the TUC’s Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, urged the government to publish the Constitutional Review Committee’s (CRC) report and its official response before proceeding with legislation to reintroduce regional and district tribunals.
Dr. Otoo said the TUC actively participated in the constitutional review exercise by submitting a memorandum and appearing before the committee, where it recommended that regional tribunals be removed from the Constitution. According to him, the committee accepted that recommendation.
He expressed concern that despite the committee’s position, the government had moved to lay the Tribunal Bill before Parliament before revealing its stance on the CRC’s recommendations.
“We are surprised that even before government makes known its position on the recommendation, it has gone to Parliament to establish or reactivate the tribunal system again,” he said.
Dr. Otoo maintained that once the constitutional review process was underway, reforms relating to constitutional institutions should be addressed through that process rather than through separate legislation.
“Our expectation was that government would first publish the full report, state its position on the recommendations, and allow citizens and stakeholders to engage in a national debate before any legislative action is taken,” he stated.
The TUC believes proceeding with the Bill before the publication of the CRC report denies Ghanaians the opportunity to scrutinise the recommendations and contribute meaningfully to the constitutional reform process.
Calling for a halt to the legislative process, Dr. Otoo said, “Let government publish the entire report of the Constitutional Review Committee. Let government bring out its own position. Then we can take it from there.”
Beyond concerns about procedure, the TUC questioned the rationale behind reviving the tribunal system, insisting that efforts should instead focus on strengthening the existing courts to improve access to justice and judicial efficiency.
Dr. Otoo noted that Ghana’s past experience with tribunals makes the issue particularly sensitive and warned against reopening the debate without broad national consensus.
The labour union also raised concerns about provisions in the Bill relating to appointments. It argued that giving the President the authority to appoint tribunal chairpersons, while allowing Regional Coordinating Councils and District Assemblies to appoint panel members, could compromise the independence of the judiciary.
“We are concerned about the potential for politicisation of the judicial system,” Dr. Otoo said, adding that reducing the President’s extensive appointment powers had already been identified as a key issue in the constitutional reform process.
The Tribunal Bill, 2026, seeks to re-establish regional and district tribunals to handle specified categories of cases and improve the administration of justice. However, its introduction has sparked debate among legal experts, civil society organisations and labour groups over its implications for judicial independence, constitutional reforms and the separation of powers.
If passed, the Bill would mark the return of tribunals as part of Ghana’s justice delivery system, a move supporters say could help reduce court backlogs, but critics argue requires broader public consultation and constitutional consensus.