Law Students Association rubbishes AG’s proposed reforms for legal education

The National Law Students Association of Ghana has kicked against the draft bill by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice proposing an amendment to the Legal Professions Act.

Speaking to Citi News, one of the leaders of the association, Hassan Asare, said this proposal should be thrown out.

He complained that concerns with access and transparency have not been addressed in the proposals.

“It is not provided anywhere in this Bill. It is just trying to rather make things worse by limiting how many people become lawyers in this country.”

Mr. Asare instead said energy should be channeled towards the private member's bill seeking to address challenges associated with legal education in Ghana.

“Let's look at the Private Member's Bill and pass it because I think that is more progressive than this retrogressive Bill that seeks to do nothing than to worsen the situation.”

The Attorney General’s proposals included the licensing of Universities offering LLB programmes and the use of entrance examinations as well as interview sessions as requirements for enrollment into the Ghana School of Law.

Meanwhile, one of the foremost advocates of the reformation of legal education in Ghana, Prof. Kwaku Asare says the proposed amendment from the Attorney General is a reflection of the inability of Ghanaian leaders to tolerate other people's views.

In a post on Facebook, the law lecturer indicated that the draft bill erases all efforts of advocates of legal education in Ghana.

“The same people, groups, associations, and mindsets that created the problem have teamed up to offer us a bill that only intensifies the problems,” he said.

About the private members’ bill

The private members’ bill is being sponsored by MPs for Bolgatanga East, Okaikoi Central, and Asawase.

A memo from the three MPs said the bill is expected to bridge gaps in the current legal and regulatory framework by providing for aspects of legal education that remain either partially regulated or wholly regulated.”

The MPs in their bill are recommending the decoupling of the administration and regulation of legal education from that of the legal profession.

They are calling for the establishment of a Council for Legal Education and Training, which shall be in charge of legal education in the Republic.

---citinewsroom