ELS:MBN Politics
The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has cautioned the government against using its overwhelming majority in Parliament to pass legislation without broad consensus, arguing that numerical strength should be exercised with responsibility and restraint.
His remarks follow Parliament’s passage of the Tribunals Bill, 2025, last week. The legislation, according to the government, is intended to establish specialised tribunals to help reduce the growing backlog of cases and improve access to justice.
However, the Bill has generated significant controversy, with the Minority in Parliament and some civil society organisations raising concerns about its constitutionality, the independence of the proposed tribunals, and the potential for political interference in the administration of justice.
Addressing the nation on Sunday, July 19, the former Vice-President said the government’s commanding parliamentary majority should not be viewed as a licence to approve every piece of legislation brought before the House.
“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,” Dr Bawumia said.
He argued that the true measure of a parliamentary majority lies not in the ease with which laws are enacted but in whether those laws serve the national interest.
“History will not ask how many votes a law received. It will ask whether the law is just, equitable, and seeks to promote and protect the interests of Ghanaians,” he added.
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Dr Bawumia also questioned the rationale behind creating a parallel tribunal system to address delays in the delivery of justice, insisting that Ghana’s judicial challenges should instead be addressed by strengthening the existing courts.
According to him, measures such as appointing more judges, expanding court infrastructure, increasing judicial staff, and accelerating the digitisation of court processes would provide a more effective and sustainable solution to case backlogs.
The Tribunals Bill, 2025 was passed by Parliament after a heated debate, with the Minority strongly opposing the legislation. Minority MPs argued that the Bill could undermine the constitutional judicial structure by creating parallel adjudicatory bodies with unclear oversight mechanisms.
They also expressed concern that the composition and appointment process for members of the proposed tribunals could expose the system to executive influence, potentially weakening judicial independence.
The government, however, has defended the legislation, maintaining that the specialised tribunals are intended to improve the speed and efficiency of justice delivery, particularly in handling specific categories of cases that have contributed to persistent congestion in the courts.
The Bill is expected to take effect after receiving presidential assent.
