By Edward Acquah
Accra, July 30, GNA – Nana Ato Dadzie, a former Chief of Staff, has endorsed the reintroduction of Public Tribunals, describing the initiative as a sensible way to broaden public participation in justice delivery.
He said involving ordinary citizens in the administration of justice would complement the formal courts and reflect long-established community-based dispute resolution mechanisms.
Nana Dadzie, a lawyer who served under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), made the remarks on Wednesday at the fourth edition of the “Time With A Politician” series organised by the Department of Political Science of the University of Ghana in partnership with KAS Ghana.
He said the former Public Tribunals applied the same laws as the conventional courts but differed in their inclusion of non-lawyers in the adjudication process.
”I’m not surprised that new legislation seeks to reintroduce the Public Tribunal system. I think it makes a lot of sense to have the public involved in the administration of justice,” he said.
Nana Dadzie questioned the notion that only legal professionals should administer justice, arguing that many disputes in Ghana were already resolved outside the formal judicial system by family heads and traditional authorities.
He said the country’s justice system should recognise and build on those existing structures.
Parliament on July 17 passed the Public Tribunal Bill, 2026, to establish a legal framework for the operation of tribunals in accordance with the Constitution.
The Bill provides for the establishment, jurisdiction, composition and operation of tribunals and the creation of a Tribunal Oversight Committee.
It is intended to strengthen access to justice, protect citizens’ rights, promote due process and improve the efficient administration of justice, particularly in specialised or time-sensitive cases.
The legislation has attracted opposition from some groups, including the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which says it could undermine public confidence in the administration of justice.
Nana Dadzie said shortcomings associated with the previous Public Tribunal system should be addressed through reforms rather than abandoning the concept.
He also advocated a greater role for traditional authorities in maintaining law and order, particularly in combating illegal mining, saying chiefs and landowners were better placed than security personnel to detect and prevent unlawful activities within their communities.
“The administration of justice should be spread out. We shouldn’t exclude them,” he said.
On constitutional reforms, Nana Dadzie expressed support for extending the presidential term from four to five years, arguing that governments required more time to implement their programmes effectively.
“You need at least six months to form a government,” he said, adding that the current four-year term was insufficient to achieve meaningful national development.
Ms Anna Lena Sabroso-Wasserfall, Country Representative of KAS Ghana, urged students to take advantage of the interaction by asking meaningful questions and learning from experienced political leaders.
She said the initiative was intended to expose students to practical political leadership experiences beyond the classroom and inspire the next generation of public servants.
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Edward Acquah