Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has criticised the passage of the Tribunals Bill, arguing that Parliament should have waited for the publication of the Constitution Review Committee’s report before approving the legislation.
Speaking in a live video shared on social media, Dr Bawumia said the government ought to make the committee’s recommendations available to the public before introducing reforms affecting Ghana’s justice system.
“Consider also the government’s own process. The President established the Constitution Review Committee and it reported last December,” he said.
According to him, the committee recommended removing regional tribunals from the Constitution because their functions have long been performed by the High Court.
“This committee recommended removing regional tribunals from the Constitution because the High Court has long carried their caseload. Yet, the report of the committee has not been published,” he stated.
Dr Bawumia questioned why Parliament proceeded to pass the legislation before Ghanaians had the opportunity to examine the committee’s findings.
“Before the nation has even read it, Parliament has rushed through and legislated in the opposite direction. President, publish the report first,” he said.
His comments come after Parliament approved the Tribunals Bill, 2026, following the House’s decision to waive the mandatory one-day interval between the consideration stage and the third reading. The bill is now awaiting presidential assent.
Dr Bawumia maintained that publishing the Constitution Review Committee’s report before the bill is signed into law would allow the public to better understand the recommendations that informed the constitutional review process.
