The 2028 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has publicly appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to withhold his executive assent to the recently passed Tribunals Bill, 2026.
Speaking on Sunday, July 19, 2026, Dr. Bawumia contended that his opposition to the piece of legislation is a non-partisan, national appeal rather than a political challenge. He asserted that reservations regarding the Bill extend far beyond political parties, highlighting critical pushback from organized labor and the government’s independent bodies.
Dr. Bawumia anchored his position on statements issued by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which represents millions of Ghanaian workers. The TUC has formally demanded the total withdrawal of the Bill, warning that its current framework risks weaponizing the delivery of justice across the country.
Furthermore, the former Vice President questioned why Parliament proceeded to pass the legislation before the official publication of the Constitution Review Committee’s report. The committee, which was established by President Mahama to review Ghana’s constitutional architecture, concluded its work and submitted its final findings in December 2025.
Dr. Bawumia noted that the committee explicitly recommended removing Regional Tribunals from the 1992 Constitution because the High Court handles their historical caseload. He argued that legislating in the opposite direction before the public has read the report undermines the integrity of the state’s constitutional review process.
“Mr. President, publish the report first,” Dr. Bawumia stated, urging the executive to prioritize public transparency and broad institutional consensus over legislative speed.
