Parliament Passes Tribunals Bill, 2026, to Clear Backlog in Traditional Courts

Parliament has passed the Tribunals Bill, 2026, paving the way for the establishment of new Tribunals to help clear the growing backlog of cases in traditional courts.

The Bill was passed on Wednesday after a sharp debate during its second reading, with the Majority Caucus backing it as a critical reform to augment the existing judicial system.

Presenting the report of the Joint Committee on Constitution & Legal and Judiciary, Committee Chairperson Hon. Shaibu Mahama said the backlog of cases in traditional courts continues to increase by approximately 3,360 cases annually.

This has resulted in delays and prolonged adjudication,” he told the House.

According to the Majority, the new Tribunals will speed up justice delivery and reduce the pressure on traditional courts.

The Minority Caucus, however, opposed the move, arguing that the rationale for creating the Tribunals to address the backlog was not convincing enough.

Despite the opposition, the Majority had the numbers to secure passage of the Bill.

With the passage, the government is expected to introduce Regional and District Tribunals to complement the traditional courts in the administration of justice.

Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/