By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Parliament’s passage of the Public Tribunals Bill has reignited debate over the return of a justice system that was widely used during the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era, with legal experts divided over its implications.
The bill, which was passed this week after consideration by the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, paves the way for the reintroduction of public tribunals in Ghana.
While government officials argue that the new tribunals will provide a faster and more efficient avenue for handling specific cases, some legal practitioners have raised concerns about their historical association with the PNDC period.
Speaking on the Current Agenda political talk show on Saturday, July 18, Private Legal Practitioner Nii Wiabo Nunoo Esq. said the history of public tribunals remains closely tied to the PNDC era, when the system faced criticism over allegations of limited judicial independence.
“The history of public tribunals is closely linked to the PNDC era, and it was not free from criticism. Critics argued that they lacked judicial independence and that rather than prosecuting, they were persecuting,” he said.
Public tribunals were established under PNDC Law 24 in 1982 and operated alongside the regular courts. They handled cases involving economic crimes, corruption and offences against the state.
However, critics of the system at the time raised concerns about summary trials, limited opportunities for appeals and perceived political influence over some decisions.
Supporters of the new legislation, however, insist that the proposed tribunals will operate differently from those established under the PNDC government.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) and Deputy Director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rashid Tanko Computer, defended the passage of the bill, arguing that the new tribunals are designed to address modern justice challenges.
“The tribunals that happened during the PNDC era are not what is going to happen now. In fact, every Ghanaian must be happy it is coming back,” he said.
Mr Tanko Computer explained that the revived tribunals would help reduce pressure on the regular courts and provide quicker access to justice for specific categories of cases involving public interest and state matters.
The debate over the Public Tribunals Bill continues as stakeholders examine how the new framework will balance speedy justice delivery with judicial independence and protection of citizens’ rights.
