Bawumia Aligns with TUC to Demand Immediate Withdrawal of Tribunals Bill for National Dialogue | Discuss Ghana

In a major convergence of political and labor forces, New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has formally aligned with the Trades Union Congress (TUC), demanding the complete withdrawal of the Tribunals Bill, 2026 to allow for comprehensive, nationwide consultations.

Following a national address delivered on Sunday, July 19, Dr. Bawumia reinforced the union’s grave warnings regarding the reintroduction of public tribunals, urging the government to halt its legislative push and focus on bolstering the existing court framework instead.

“Reflect on the historical antecedents of the public tribunals system," Dr. Bawumia urged. "Under this bill, panels that include persons who are not lawyers may sit in judgement over criminal matters. Ghanaians remember tribunals, and we remember what was done in their names. Our courts are congested, but the answer to congested courts is to strengthen the courts... It is not to build a second system of justice.”

The Labor Front's Firm Rejection

The TUC, led by Secretary-General Joshua Ansah and Deputy General Secretary Dr. Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, recently convened an emergency press conference calling on the government to cease all legislative action on the bill.

The union highlighted critical concerns regarding the proposed law:

Historical Trauma & Politicization: The TUC warned that reviving tribunals creates a "potent tool for weaponising justice delivery," risking the politicization of the judiciary.

Constitutional Review Alignment: The union reminded the executive that the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC)—chaired by Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh—had already explicitly recommended the complete abolition of regional tribunals, noting that the High Court successfully handles their former jurisdiction.

Flawed Appointment Structures: Labor leaders argued that granting executive authority to appoint tribunal chairs and local panel members creates dangerous loopholes for political influence over criminal trials.

Opposition Escalates as Bill Passes Parliament

The joint push from Dr. Bawumia and Organized Labor comes in the wake of high political drama in Parliament, where the ruling majority passed the Public Tribunal Bill, 2026 despite an emphatic boycott by Minority lawmakers led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

While Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine and Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga contend that the tribunals are essential to clear an annual backlog accumulating by over 3,300 cases, the opposition and labor coalition insist that creating parallel adjudicatory bodies with non-lawyer panel members compromises fair trial guarantees.

With both the leading opposition party and organized labor demanding an immediate "ceasefire," all eyes remain on President John Dramani Mahama to see whether he will assent to the legislation or yield to calls for a broad national dialogue.