NPP will dismantle regional tribunals if voted back into power - Afenyo-Markin vows

Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has declared that a future New Patriotic Party (NPP) government would move to scrap the regional tribunals being introduced by the Mahama administration.

He insisted that the existing court system should be strengthened instead of creating new judicial structures.

Why the Minority walked out of Parliament over the Tribunals Bill 2026

Speaking in an exclusive interview on Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Friday, July 17, 2026, the Effutu Member of Parliament argued that Ghana's justice system requires more investment in infrastructure and personnel rather than the establishment of regional tribunals.

"The NPP's position is very clear. We don't need these regional tribunals," he said.

"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," he added.

Afenyo-Markin maintained that any judicial arrangement that alters the country's current court structure would not survive under an NPP administration.

"Anything that will disturb the existing judicial infrastructure would have to go," he said.

While he stopped short of expressly stating that the Tribunals Bill, 2026 would be repealed, the Minority Leader suggested that an incoming NPP government would use both executive and legislative authority to reverse the policy.

"You need executive powers to support your legislative powers in Parliament to effect major reforms, transformations and changes," he stated.

His remarks come just after Parliament passed the Tribunals Bill, 2026, on July 17, 2026, despite strong resistance from the Minority Caucus.

The bill was approved following a walkout by Minority MPs led by Afenyo-Markin a day before the vote.

The Minority has consistently argued that the proposed tribunals could weaken due process and compromise fair trial guarantees.

The government, however, has defended the legislation, saying the tribunals are aimed at speeding up the administration of justice by reducing delays and tackling the growing backlog of cases in the courts.

The bill is expected to be sent to President John Dramani Mahama for assent to become law.

NA/VPO

Watch Justice Atuguba's full speech at Justice D.F. Annan memorial lecture below: