Bawumia Urges Mahama Not to Assent to Tribunals Bill, Calls for National Consultations

Bawumia Urges Mahama Not to Assent to Tribunals Bill – 7 Powerful Reasons Behind the Plea

Follow Nukunya

Get the latest breaking news and updates from Nukunya.

Bawumia Urges Mahama Not to Assent to Tribunals Bill, Calls for National Consultations

Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to withhold his assent to the recently passed Tribunals Bill, 2026, urging broader national consultations before the legislation becomes law.

In a public address, Dr. Bawumia described the bill as a major reform with significant implications for Ghana’s justice delivery system, judicial independence, and democratic governance. He argued that reforms affecting the country’s judicial architecture should be based on broad national consensus rather than a parliamentary majority.

The Tribunals Bill, which was approved by Parliament after its third reading, seeks to reintroduce a tribunal system under a revised legal framework. The legislation is awaiting presidential assent before it can take effect.

Addressing President Mahama directly, Dr. Bawumia said:

“Mr. President, do not sign this Bill. Pause, and let the nation talk.”

He proposed that the President engage key stakeholders, including the Ghana Bar Association, the Judiciary, civil society organisations, organised labour, political parties, and legal professionals before making a final decision on the bill. According to him, such consultations would help build national consensus and strengthen public confidence in any reforms to Ghana’s justice system.

Dr. Bawumia also referenced concerns raised by organised labour, particularly the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which has called for the bill to be reconsidered, arguing that aspects of the proposed law could affect public confidence in the justice system.

Supporters of the bill, however, maintain that it is intended to strengthen the administration of justice by restoring tribunals within a revised legal framework. Parliament passed the legislation after the Attorney-General moved to waive the mandatory interval between the consideration stage and the third reading, allowing the bill to be approved before it is forwarded to the President.

President Mahama has yet to publicly indicate whether he will assent to the Tribunals Bill or delay the process for further consultations.