Dennis Adjei Dwomoh, an adjunct constitutional law lecturer at the GIMPA Law School, has said the regional tribunal courts could cost Ghana not less than US$10 million to establish across the country.
He noted that the key concern should be the financial commitment required to establish and sustain the courts.
Speaking on Joy FM Newsfile, the Law Lecturer stated, “Establishing is one thing, but the operationalisation of the Tribunals may cost you not less than $10 million if you want to effectively do it well”.
“If you are a drafter and in drafting, as I understood it, you should draft in line with understanding that there are human rights and also the operationalisation of them. And that is why I always prefer that when these laws are passed, there should be a policy behind that and possibly a budget behind it, and how much is this Tribunals going to cost us, for now, we do not know,” he added.
His comment follows Parliament’s passage of the Tribunals Bill, 2026, after the legislation went through its third reading and received approval from parliamentarians.
The passage of the Tribunals Bill, 2026 will pave the way for the reintroduction of tribunals under a revised legal framework, which will create regional and district courts to tackle specialised tax, mining, and fraud cases.
The bill will now be transmitted to President John Dramani Mahama for his assent before it becomes law.
On Thursday, July 16, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, moved for the Bill to be read for the third time,
He sought approval from the Speaker to waive the requirement for a one-day interval between the consideration stage and the third reading.
Dr Dominic Ayine stated, “May I move that, notwithstanding the provision in Order 172, sub-order 1 of the Standing Orders which requires that when a Bill has passed through the consideration stage, the third reading thereof shall not be taken until at least one sitting day has elapsed, the motion for the third reading of the Tribunals Bill, 2026 may be moved today. I so move, Mr Speaker”.
After the third reading, the House approved the Bill, completing the parliamentary process required before it is sent to the President.
The Tribunals Bill, 2026 was earlier introduced by Dr Ayine earlier this year.
He explained that the proposed law was aimed at enhancing access to justice, addressing delays in the court system and restoring tribunals with appropriate constitutional safeguards.
The Tribunals Bill was subsequently referred to Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee and the Judiciary Committee for detailed review before being brought back to the House for consideration.
Meanwhile, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, has said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) future government will scrap the regional tribunals.
According to Afenyo-Markin, the NPP position is very clear that Ghana do not need the tribunals being introduced by the Mahama administration.
The Minority leader of Parliament argued that Ghana’s justice system requires more investment in infrastructure and personnel rather than the establishment of regional tribunals.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Friday, July 17, 2026, Afenyo-Markin stated, “The NPP’s position is very clear. We don’t need these regional tribunals”.
“What we need to do is to strengthen our court system, invest in retooling, train our judges and get those with the necessary integrity to man our courts and dispense justice without fear or favour”.
According to Afenyo-Markin, any judicial arrangement that alters Ghana’s court structure would not survive under a future NPP administration.
“Anything that will disturb the existing judicial infrastructure would have to go. You need executive powers to support your legislative powers in Parliament to effect major reforms, transformations and changes,” he stated.
@ghnow_ Serwaa Amihere joins the Supreme Court @ 150 anniversary #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – Kofi Kinaata
@ghnow_ Serwaa Amihere joins the Supreme Court @ 150 anniversary outreach program in Makola #GHNow #fyp ♬ Biggest Nathaniel – N.E records & lasmid
