Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Political Science, Dr Joshua Ebuntie Zaato, says many Ghanaians continue to fear the tribunal system because of its association with some of the country’s worst human rights abuses.
Speaking on Citi FM’s The Big Issue on Saturday, July 17, Dr Zaato argued that the painful memories of past tribunal systems have left many people sceptical about their reintroduction.
“If you talk to any Ghanaian of any background, when they hear the word tribunal they tremble. There is no Ghanaian who hears tribunal and is happy and says, ‘Welcome back.’ This is because of their bitter experiences. Some of the worst human rights abuses that happened in this country happened with tribunal systems,” he said.
Dr Zaato also claimed that opposition to the proposed tribunal system has united a broad section of Ghanaians, saying he had not seen any recognised organisation publicly endorse the policy.
“Since this government came to power in 2025, very few issues have united the Ghanaian opposition compared to this case. Apart from the government, I am yet to see any recognised or reputable organisation that has come out to support this tribunal system,” he added.
His comments come after Parliament passed the Tribunals Bill, 2026, which seeks to reintroduce regional tribunals under a revised legal framework to strengthen the administration of justice and improve access to legal remedies.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has defended the legislation, rejecting claims that the tribunals are intended to target members of the opposition.
According to him, the proposed tribunal system is aimed at speeding up the adjudication of cases and addressing delays in the traditional court system.
The bill has, however, generated public debate, with critics raising concerns over the historical legacy of tribunals and their potential impact on justice and due process.
