The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has urged members of the judiciary who have raised concerns about the proposed Legal Education Bill to ensure their criticisms are constructive and geared towards strengthening Ghana’s legal training system.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face, the Majority Chief Whip acknowledged that divergent views are a vital part of democratic governance. However, he stressed that judges who oppose aspects of the bill must be clear about the capacity in which they are speaking.
According to him, members of the bench should distinguish between their roles as judges and any other professional capacities, such as lecturers in legal education.
“Judges don’t make laws. It is Parliament that makes laws. They interpret the laws. They don’t teach the law as judges; they teach the law as teachers,” he stated.
“They should stop confusing their role as teachers with their role as judges. If you are criticising the bill as a teacher, you say so, then we will tell you that these are the principles behind the introduction of the bill.”
Mr Dafeamekpor maintained that the national conversation on the Legal Education Bill must remain focused on reforms aimed at improving access, enhancing professional standards and modernising legal training, rather than being overshadowed by institutional disagreements.
The Legal Education Bill, currently before Parliament, seeks to overhaul Ghana’s legal education framework, which has faced longstanding criticism over restricted access to professional training, congestion at the Ghana School of Law and concerns about admission procedures.
The proposed legislation is expected to establish a clearer regulatory structure by outlining the responsibilities of institutions involved in training lawyers, strengthening oversight mechanisms and introducing alternative pathways to professional qualification.
A key objective of the bill is to expand opportunities for law graduates to undertake professional training while preserving the standards of the legal profession.
