Legal Green Association Supports Operationalization of Regional Tribunals to Fight Corruption
The Legal Green Association (LGA) has thrown its weight behind the government’s plan to operationalize the Regional Tribunals, established under the 1992 Constitution, to tackle corruption and economic crimes in Ghana.
The Association believes that the Regional Tribunal is a legitimate constitutional mechanism, not a relic of authoritarianism, and remains a dormant but lawful arm of Ghana’s judicial structure. The Tribunal has concurrent jurisdiction with the High Court in cases of serious economic fraud, loss or misappropriation of state funds or property, and misuse of public office for personal profit.
According to Festus Matey, Leader of the Legal Green Association, “The Regional Tribunal is not a relic of authoritarianism but a dormant constitutional mechanism awaiting operational activation.” He added that the Tribunal can and must be revived to serve the nation’s pressing need for swift, credible justice in corruption and economic crime cases.
The LGA’s support comes after the Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, disclosed that a Public Tribunal Bill has been submitted to Cabinet for approval and will soon be presented to Parliament under a certificate of urgency. The bill aims to reclaim misappropriated public funds and state assets through Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL).
Key Proposals
Statutory Cap of 12 Months for Corruption-Related Trials: Parliament should set a maximum 12-month timeline for completing corruption and economic crime cases.
Resourcing of Investigative and Prosecutorial Bodies: Adequate resources should be allocated to investigative and prosecutorial bodies, with a fixed proportion of recovered funds channeled back into these institutions.
The LGA has urged all arms of government to demonstrate unity and courage in confronting corruption, describing ORAL as a “national redemption effort” critical to restoring public trust in Ghana’s governance and justice systems.
