Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has announced an end to long-standing perceptions of inequality in the call-to-the-Bar system.
The General Legal Council, he said, has abolished the perceived distinction between the “main core” and “mini core.”
The former “mini core” will now be known as the March Call, while the traditional “main core” will be designated as the October Call.
He emphasized that both calls will carry the same professional and ceremonial significance.
“There shall be no difference in perceived status, no difference in professional recognition, and no difference in quality. The March Call will be conducted in the same spirit, with the same dignity, and under the same standards as the October Call,” he declared.
Delivering the keynote address at the induction of a new batch of students for the Ghana School of Law, Kumasi campus, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie also hinted at the possibility of holding call ceremonies in Kumasi to ease pressure on students who traditionally travel to Accra, noting that seniority measured in mere hours or days should not determine professional standing.
He underscored that while reforms aim to ensure fairness, standards will not be compromised.
The Chief Justice reminded the students that the journey into the legal profession demands more than academic brilliance.
“The path before you will demand more than intelligence. It will demand courage; courage to defend principle when it is unpopular, courage to uphold ethics when compromise is convenient, and courage to remain faithful to the law when personal interest suggests otherwise,” he said.
He emphasized that legal education is not merely preparation for a career, but initiation into a public trust.
“You are entering a profession that safeguards rights, resolves conflicts, and sustains the rule of law,” the Chief Justice told the inductees.
In his address, Acting Director of Legal Education and Acting Director of Ghana School of Law, Professor Raymond Atuguba, outlined a renewed academic vision anchored on three pillars: curriculum integrity, disciplined students, and committed lecturers.
He announced the revision and digitisation of course manuals to reflect current laws and cases, with updated electronic versions to be made accessible to students. He added that firm academic timelines have been set to ensure students have adequate preparation time before examinations.
Mock examinations will also be introduced in April as a diagnostic tool to help students adapt to the assessment structure.
“The law does not reward surprise. It rewards preparation,” he noted, assuring students that teaching and examinations will strictly follow the revised manuals to eliminate arbitrariness and anxiety.
Prof. Atuguba urged students to rise to the demands of the institution and resist shortcuts, reminding them that disciplined persistence produces lasting results.
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Ashanti Regional President, Kwame Owusu Sekyere described the large number of inductees as a welcome development for the profession.
He cautioned students that the journey ahead would be “torturous” and requires sustained dedication and commitment.
“In law, there is nothing like rapid results. What you are being taught today will stay with you forever,” he advised.
Mr. Owusu Sekyere stressed that the legal profession is highly regulated by ethics and warned that breaches could lead to sanctions by the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council.
“You can only defend yourself by complying with the ethics of the profession,” he said, reminding students that ethical conduct extends beyond the courtroom to personal comportment and daily life.
By Ibrahim Abubakar
