The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged Ghanaians to resist the government’s move to reintroduce tribunals, warning that the system could undermine judicial independence and create avenues for political abuse.
At a press conference in Accra on Friday, July 31, 2026, NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B) said the party views the passage of the Tribunals Bill, 2026 as an attempt by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to establish a parallel justice system. “The courts are doing their work. We know what tribunals bring to mind. The NDC intends to perpetuate evil with the tribunals,” Nana B stated, according to Adomonline.
The bill, recently approved by Parliament, seeks to operationalise Article 126 of the 1992 Constitution, which provides for the establishment of tribunals as part of Ghana’s judicial system. Government officials have defended the measure, arguing that it will expand access to justice and ensure constitutional compliance.
The NPP, however, maintains that the existing courts are capable of handling cases and that tribunals could be manipulated for partisan purposes. Nana B cautioned that the reintroduction of tribunals recalls Ghana’s past under the PNDC era, when tribunal members were accused of targeting opponents and enriching themselves through asset seizures.
The opposition’s stance aligns with concerns raised by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who argued during parliamentary debates that district and regional tribunals would weaken the authority of conventional courts. He warned that the system could erode public confidence in Ghana’s judiciary.
While the government insists the tribunals will operate under judicial oversight and respect due process, the NPP has called on citizens to reject the initiative, stressing that Ghana’s democracy must not be compromised by parallel judicial structures.
