Former Director of the Ghana School of Law, Kwaku Ansa Asare, has welcomed the proposal to replace the existing law school admissions process with a national bar examination.

In an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the seasoned legal practitioner described the move as timely and commendable, urging the Attorney General to ensure its full implementation.

“This is a good step, and I hope it will be implemented,” he stated.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, July 28, 2025, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, announced that a new Legal Education Bill—expected to go before Cabinet in August—will introduce a national bar examination.

Under the proposed changes, all LLB graduates from accredited institutions will undertake a one-year Bar Practice Programme within their respective universities. After completing the programme, students will sit for a centralised national bar exam to qualify as lawyers.

Mr. Ansa Asare, however, urged the Attorney General to go a step further by introducing a legal framework that formally backs the Ghana School of Law.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, July 28, 2025, Dr. Ayine revealed that a new Legal Education Bill, expected to go before Cabinet in August, will introduce a national bar examination as a replacement.

Under the proposed changes, all LLB graduates from accredited institutions will undertake a one-year Bar Practice Programme within their respective universities. After the programme, they will write a centralised national bar exam to qualify as lawyers.

“The bill will abolish the Ghana School of Law system,” Dr. Ayine said.

“Universities will be empowered to offer practical legal training, and students will take a national bar exam, similar to the approach used by the Institute of Chartered Accountants.”

The Attorney-General stressed that the reforms are designed to decentralise legal education, widen access, and eliminate bottlenecks that have prevented many qualified graduates from joining the legal profession.

“For too long, the current system has been one of exclusion. We are moving toward a system of inclusion, where merit, not limited slots, determines your path to the Bar,” he emphasised.

Dr. Ayine added that the final draft of the bill was submitted to his deputy, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, on Sunday, July 27, for review ahead of its official presentation to Cabinet.

Source: AdomOnline

READ ALSO:

• Vigil to be held for Daddy Lumba on Saturday, August 2
• Titus Glover urges honest dialogue to end Bawku conflict