The Minority in Parliament has called on President John Dramani Mahama to refuse assent to the Public Tribunal Bill 2026, warning that its enactment could undermine Ghana's democratic and judicial gains.

Addressing Parliament before the House adjourned sine die, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin argued that the proposed establishment of district and regional public tribunals had sparked widespread public concerns and revived memories of the country's controversial tribunal system.

“The Tribunal Bill must not become law,” Afenyo-Markin stressed, urging the President to withhold his assent to the legislation.

He maintained that while the Minority supports reforms aimed at improving access to justice and addressing delays in the judicial system, creating public tribunals is not the answer. 

Instead, he said, the government should strengthen the existing courts by providing them with the resources needed to deliver justice efficiently.

The Minority Leader further cautioned that the proposed law could erode public confidence in the judiciary and weaken constitutional safeguards that guarantee judicial independence. 

He stressed that reforms to the justice system should reinforce rather than replace the country's established judicial structures.

The Public Tribunal Bill 2026 was passed by Parliament despite a boycott by the Minority. 

The legislation seeks to establish a legal framework for district and regional tribunals to handle specified categories of cases as part of efforts to improve the administration of justice.

However, the bill has generated mixed reactions with critics arguing that the proposed tribunals could be susceptible to political influence while supporters maintain they will help ease the burden on the conventional courts and speed up the delivery of justice.