The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on the government to withdraw the passed Regional Tribunals Bill by Parliament, arguing that the move could undermine confidence in Ghana’s justice system.
Addressing a press conference, TUC Secretary-General Joshua Ansah said the union strongly opposes the re-establishment of Regional and District Tribunals, describing the proposal as an attempt to revive what he termed a “bitter and unfortunate” period in the country’s history.
Mr. Ansah said the TUC had carefully reviewed the proposed legislation and consulted relevant stakeholders before taking its position.
He explained that the union had consistently opposed the creation of such tribunals and had made similar recommendations during the constitutional review process, advocating for the removal of constitutional provisions that provide for Regional Tribunals.
According to him, the TUC believes reviving the tribunals could weaken public trust in the justice system and create room for political influence in judicial processes.
The labour union has therefore urged President John Dramani Mahama and Parliament to discontinue the legislative process and instead prioritise measures to strengthen the existing court system.
Mr. Ansah argued that Ghana’s previous experiences with public tribunals should serve as a caution against their reintroduction, stressing that improving the capacity, independence and efficiency of the regular judiciary remains the best approach to enhancing justice delivery.
The TUC maintained that safeguarding judicial independence and ensuring public confidence in legal institutions should remain central to any reforms within Ghana’s justice sector.
