The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has strongly opposed the government’s proposed re-establishment of Regional and District Tribunals, arguing that the move would revive painful memories of what it describes as a “bitter and unfortunate” chapter in Ghana’s history.
Addressing a news conference, the Secretary-General of the TUC, Joshua Ansah, called for the immediate withdrawal of the Regional Tribunals Bill from Parliament, insisting that the proposal should be abandoned because it is not in the country’s best interest.
Mr. Ansah said the TUC had thoroughly reviewed the proposed legislation and engaged key stakeholders before reaching its position.
“The TUC has equally examined the bill and consulted widely with various stakeholders on the setting up of Regional and District Tribunals.”
He noted that the labour union had consistently maintained its opposition to the tribunals, citing recommendations it made during the constitutional review process.
“The TUC Memorandum to the Constitutional Review Committee in paragraph 14 indicated that the tribunals were not relevant.”
According to him, the TUC believes the provisions on Regional Tribunals should be removed entirely from the Constitution rather than revived.
“The TUC is saying the Regional Tribunals must be expunged from the Constitution. The TUC is manifestly opposed to resuscitating tribunals given our bitter experience with our history.”
Mr. Ansah warned that reintroducing the tribunals could undermine public confidence in the justice system and expose it to political interference.
“The tribunals in its current state and form must be abandoned or, when passed into law, can be a potent tool for weaponizing justice delivery and entrench the perception held by many that our justice system is up for grabs by politicians.”
The TUC further urged President John Dramani Mahama and Parliament to halt the legislative process and instead focus on strengthening the existing judiciary.
“We call on the President and Parliament to heed the advice of the Constitutional Review Committee. Government must halt the current legislative process enacting the Tribunals Bill, expunge tribunals from the Constitution and take meaningful steps to resource the judiciary.”
Mr. Ansah stressed that Ghana’s past experience with public tribunals should serve as a guide against any attempt to bring them back.
“If law is properly seen to be an embodiment of our collective historical experience, then the recent history of public tribunals must lead us away from any attempt to re-establish Regional and District Tribunals. The Bill must be withdrawn from Parliament.”
The TUC maintains that strengthening the judiciary, rather than creating new tribunals, remains the most effective way to improve justice delivery and safeguard the independence of Ghana’s legal system.
By Daniel Opoku
