Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to refrain from signing the recently approved Tribunals Bill into law until it has been subjected to broad national consultation.

Addressing Ghanaians on Sunday, July 19, 2026, the former Vice President said legislation that could significantly affect the country’s justice system should be developed through extensive dialogue with key stakeholders rather than being enacted solely on the strength of a parliamentary majority.

He proposed that the government engage the judiciary, the Ghana Bar Association, legal practitioners, organised labour, civil society organisations and political parties before making a final decision on the bill.

According to Dr Bawumia, reforms to Ghana’s judicial system must be founded on national consensus to safeguard public confidence in the administration of justice.

He described the judiciary as a cornerstone of Ghana’s democracy, stressing that any changes to its structure or operations should be handled transparently, inclusively and with careful deliberation.

Making a direct appeal to President Mahama, Dr Bawumia urged him to suspend assent to the legislation and instead initiate a nationwide consultation process.

“The bill will soon be transmitted to the President for his assent and I have one respectful request of President Mahama. Mr President, do not assent to this bill. Pause and let the nation ponder and deliberate on this very important matter,” he said.

Dr Bawumia insisted that his appeal was not driven by partisan interests, pointing to concerns raised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which has called for the bill to be withdrawn.

He noted that the TUC had warned the proposed law, in its current form, could become a tool that undermines the fair administration of justice.

The NPP flagbearer also cited recommendations from the Constitution Review Committee, set up by President Mahama, which proposed removing regional tribunals from the Constitution because the High Court has effectively taken over their responsibilities.

He urged the government to convene a comprehensive consultative forum involving the judiciary, legal professional bodies, organised labour, civil society groups and political parties before taking any further steps on the legislation.

Dr Bawumia argued that the justice system serves all Ghanaians and that any law seeking to restructure it should reflect broad national agreement rather than political advantage.

His comments come as debate over the Tribunals Bill continues to intensify, with legal experts, civil society organisations and other stakeholders raising concerns about its potential impact on Ghana’s justice delivery system.