Parliament passes tribunals bill to improve access to Justice
Parliament has passed the Tribunals Bill, 2026, paving the way for the reintroduction of tribunals under a strengthened legal framework aimed at improving access to justice, reducing court backlogs and enhancing the administration of justice in the country.
The legislation provides for the establishment, jurisdiction, composition and operation of tribunals in accordance with the 1992 Constitution. It also establishes a Tribunal Oversight Committee to supervise the operations of the tribunals and ensure compliance with constitutional and legal standards.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, who introduced the bill earlier this year, said the proposed legislation was designed to restore tribunals with appropriate constitutional safeguards while addressing delays in the justice delivery system.
He explained that the bill would strengthen access to justice, protect the rights of citizens, promote due process and improve the efficient administration of justice, particularly in matters requiring specialised or expeditious determination.
Dr Ayine noted that the growing backlog of cases in the traditional courts had become a major challenge, with approximately 3,360 new backlog cases added annually, resulting in delays and prolonged adjudication.
He said the re-establishment of tribunals would help ease the burden on the courts by providing an alternative mechanism for the timely determination of cases.
“The establishment of the tribunals would help reduce this burden and ensure the expeditious disposal of cases,” he stated.
The Attorney-General further observed that although Article 142 of the 1992 Constitution recognises tribunals as part of Ghana’s judicial structure, they have become defunct in practice.
He said the Tribunals Bill seeks to bridge that gap by providing a comprehensive legal framework to operationalise tribunals in line with constitutional provisions and contemporary justice delivery needs.
The passage of the bill is expected to strengthen the country’s judicial system by improving efficiency, enhancing access to justice and ensuring the timely resolution of cases.
Judith Twumwaa, ISD
