The Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has criticised the passage of the Regional Tribunal Bill, describing the proposed tribunal system as unnecessary and warning that it could expose the judiciary to political influence.
Speaking after Parliament approved the bill, Mr. Acquah argued that the establishment of regional tribunals could undermine judicial independence by creating opportunities for political interference in the administration of justice.
The bill was passed by the Majority in Parliament despite strong opposition from the Minority.
Mr. Acquah maintained that instead of creating a new tribunal system, the government should channel resources into strengthening the existing judicial structure.
He called for the appointment of more judges, increased investment in the courts, and measures to improve the efficiency of the justice delivery system.
According to the Akim Oda legislator, the creation of regional tribunals would amount to an unnecessary expenditure of public funds while introducing a structure that could be susceptible to abuse.
He stressed that enhancing the capacity of the current court system would be a more practical and sustainable approach to improving access to justice and ensuring the timely adjudication of cases across the country.
Mr. Acquah urged the government to prioritise reforms that reinforce the existing judiciary rather than establishing parallel institutions that, in his view, could compromise the independence and credibility of the justice system.
