The presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has strongly admonished President John Dramani Mahama not to assent to the recently passed Tribunals Bill.
The former Vice President argued that such a significant piece of legislation should only become law after broad national consultations with key stakeholders.
Speaking during a live broadcast on Sunday, 19 July, Dr Bawumia expressed grave concern over the swift passage of the bill.
He directly appealed to the President to suspend the executive assent process to allow for wider engagement with groups that have a direct interest in Ghana’s justice system.
The NPP flagbearer opined that any law carrying such far-reaching implications for the country’s judicial architecture must be shaped through genuine national consensus, rather than relying solely on parliamentary majorities.
To achieve this, he proposed a comprehensive stakeholder consultation involving civil society organisations, labour unions, and political parties.
This approach, he noted, would help build public confidence in the legislation and ensure that any structural reforms reflect the collective interests of Ghanaians.
Detailing his concerns, Dr Bawumia noted that rushing the bill into law without consensus risks undermining public trust in the judiciary.
“The bill will soon be transmitted to the president for his assent, and I have one respectful request of President Mahama. Mr. President, do not assent to this bill. Pause and let the nation ponder and deliberate on this very important matter.
“This is not a partisan request. The Trades Union Congress and the voice of millions of Ghanaian workers have called for the bill to be withdrawn, warning that in its current form, it could become a potent tool for weaponising justice delivery.
