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Mr Kwame Owusu Danso urges caution over proposed Tribunals Bill
Lawyer and Executive Director of Lands and Mines Watch Ghana, Mr Kwame Owusu Danso, has called for broad national consultation on the proposed Tribunals Bill, saying many Ghanaians still carry painful memories of how tribunals were used in the past.
Speaking on the issue in Joy news platform on Monday July 20, 2026, Mr Owusu Danso said the country should approach the proposed reintroduction of tribunals with caution because previous experiences had left lasting scars on many people.
According to him, tribunals were once perceived as institutions used to intimidate people and suppress dissent, making it important for the government to build public confidence before introducing a similar system.
“People still have scars from the past. They remember how tribunals were used as a means of cowering people into submission. If you are going to reintroduce a system that left painful scars in the lives of many people, then you ought to be very measured,” he said.
He stressed that extensive consultation with stakeholders was necessary to assure Ghanaians that the proposed tribunals would not repeat the mistakes of the past.
Mr Owusu Danso also raised concerns about provisions in the bill that would allow non-lawyers to serve on tribunal panels.
He said the proposal reminded many people of the tribunal system that existed in the 1980s, where non-lawyers also participated in hearing cases.
According to him, although there may be criteria for appointing such individuals, concerns remain because the appointments could be made by political authorities.
He argued that this could create perceptions of political influence over the tribunal system and undermine public confidence in its independence.
“The fact that non-lawyers will be appointed by political people means politics cannot be separated from the process. That could open the door to extreme partisan politics, and we ought to be very careful,” he stated.
Mr Owusu Danso said protecting the rule of law required a justice system that the public trusted to be fair and independent.
He added that people should be able to appear before courts and tribunals without fear or preconceived notions about the outcome of their cases, stressing that any reforms to the justice system should inspire confidence among the public.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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