Parliament has passed the Tribunals Bill, 2026, following a marathon sitting that extended beyond midnight, despite opposition from the Minority, who boycotted the approval process.
The Bill will now be submitted to President John Dramani Mahama for assent before it can become law.
The legislation seeks to establish Regional and District Tribunals across the country to adjudicate specialised cases, including illegal mining offences, tax and customs violations, fraud, and matters involving economic loss to the state.
Government has argued that the establishment of the tribunals will help accelerate the prosecution of complex public interest and economic crime cases while improving access to justice.
However, the proposal has faced criticism from some quarters over concerns about the timing of the legislation and the need for adequate safeguards to guarantee the independence of the tribunals.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, introduced the Tribunals Bill, 2026, before Parliament earlier this year.
At the time, he explained that the proposed law was aimed at reducing the backlog of cases, improving access to justice, and reintroducing tribunals under constitutional safeguards and stronger oversight mechanisms.
Following its introduction, the Bill was referred to Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee and the Judiciary Committee for detailed consideration before being brought back to the House for debate.
With its passage, the legislation has moved a step closer to implementation, pending presidential assent.