Politics & Policy

    NPP calls for broad consultation on Tribunals Bill

    Former Vice-President Bawumia urges President Mahama to withhold assent for national dialogue.

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    Former Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has urged President John Dramani Mahama to suspend the assent process for the Public Tribunals Bill, 2026. He called for broad national consultations before the legislation becomes law. Dr. Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) 2028 presidential candidate, stated the NPP is ready to participate in these discussions. Dr. Bawumia appealed to President Mahama to withhold his assent to the Bill and engage key stakeholders. He argued that reforms affecting Ghana's justice system should be founded on national consensus. This consensus is more important than the numerical strength of a parliamentary majority, he explained. This development fits into Ghana's ongoing political discourse regarding legislative processes and democratic institutions. It highlights the tension between parliamentary power and the need for broader societal agreement on critical reforms. Past legislative efforts have sometimes faced similar calls for wider stakeholder engagement, reflecting a desire for inclusive governance. Addressing the nation on Sunday, July 19, Dr. Bawumia stated, "Mr President, your government commands one of the largest majorities in the history of the Fourth Republic. With such numbers, Parliament can pass almost any Bill it wishes. Not everything that can be passed should be passed." He emphasized that a commanding parliamentary majority carries a greater responsibility to build consensus on matters affecting democratic institutions. What happens next depends on President Mahama's response to this call for dialogue. Decision-makers will watch whether the President agrees to suspend the assent and initiate broader consultations. The involvement of legal professional bodies, organized labour, and civil society organizations will be crucial. This situation could set a precedent for how major legislative changes are handled in Ghana, particularly those with significant constitutional implications. Dr. Bawumia further argued that legislation should ultimately reflect the aspirations of the Ghanaian people. He stated this is more important than the size of the parliamentary majority that approved it. "History will not ask how many votes a law received. It will ask whether the law reflected the best desires of a broad section of Ghanaian society," he added. The former Vice-President assured that the NPP would participate in good faith in any national engagement on the proposed legislation. He called on President Mahama to bring together the Ghana Bar Association, other legal professional bodies, organized labour, civil society organizations, political parties, and the Judiciary. These groups should deliberate on the Bill before it receives presidential assent. He pledged the NPP's readiness to contribute constructively to such discussions, stating, "Invite the Ghana Bar Association and other lawyers' groups, organised labour, civil society, and the political parties, including my own; we will come in good faith." Dr. Bawumia also stressed the need to involve the Judiciary itself. Judges and legal professionals would ultimately be responsible for implementing any reforms introduced by Parliament, he noted. He maintained that judicial reforms should not be undertaken without the direct involvement of those administering justice. Changes to the country's justice delivery framework must be informed by practical experience, he argued. Dr. Bawumia further stated that justice must remain above partisan politics and reflect the collective interests of the Ghanaian people. "Justice belongs to no government and no party. It belongs to the Ghanaian people," he concluded. He insisted that legislation capable of reshaping Ghana's judicial architecture should command broad public support. It should not rely solely on parliamentary numbers. "A law that reshapes the architecture of justice should rest on national consensus, not on a headcount," he added. This principle underscores the importance of inclusive governance and stakeholder engagement in Ghana's democratic process.

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