Parliament has adopted the report of the Constitution and Legal Affairs Committee on reforms aimed at expanding access to legal education and promoting awareness and professional training for lawyers in Ghana.
The move follows the laying of the Legal Education Reform Bill by the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, Dominic Ayine, on 24 October 2025.
Presenting the explanatory memorandum and motion at plenary, Mr Ayine said the proposed legislation seeks to widen access to legal education and end the long-standing monopoly of the Ghana School of Law as the sole institution mandated to train lawyers.
According to the Attorney-General, the reforms are designed to create a more inclusive and responsive legal education system while ensuring that professional standards are upheld.
Contributing to the debate ahead of the adoption of the Committee’s report, the Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, explained that the Bill provides for the establishment of a National Council for Legal Education.
He noted that the Council would be responsible for accrediting law faculties in universities to train lawyers and for supervising a national bar examination, which would serve as a uniform assessment for entry into the legal profession.
Mr Ayariga stressed that the reforms would create a fair and equitable platform for qualified candidates to pursue legal training, thereby widening opportunities for aspiring lawyers across the country.
Members from both the Majority and Minority Caucuses welcomed the proposed expansion of access to legal education but cautioned that standards must not be compromised.
They emphasised the need for strong regulatory mechanisms to safeguard the integrity and quality of the legal profession as access is broadened.
