Parliament has approved the Legal Education Bill, 2025, in what is being described as a landmark shift in Ghana’s legal training landscape.
The legislation, now awaiting assent from John Dramani Mahama, effectively brings an end to the long-held exclusivity of the Ghana School of Law in providing professional legal education. It opens the door for accredited universities across the country to offer such training.
At the heart of the new law is the creation of a Council for Legal Education and Training. This body will oversee and regulate legal education nationwide, ensuring uniform standards and harmonised curricula. Universities that receive accreditation from the Council will be authorised to run the Law Practice Training Course, with graduates proceeding to sit for a National Bar Examination.
Addressing the House, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga framed the development as a key policy delivery by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“As has been typical of the NDC, promises made are delivered. We promised law students reforms that ensure equity, fairness, and access to legal education, and today, we have delivered,” he stated.
On the other side of the aisle, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin acknowledged the importance of the reform but pressed the government to follow through on other commitments made to the public.
He noted that while the passage of the bill is significant, many Ghanaians are still expecting progress on other major promises.
The new law signals a decisive move toward decentralising legal education in Ghana, expanding access and creating alternative pathways for prospective lawyers beyond the traditional structure of the Ghana School of Law.
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