Kumasi to host permanent Ghana School of Law campus as Asantehene hands over land

Kumasi is set to welcome a permanent campus of the Ghana School of Law following the official handover of 1.12 acres of land by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The land, located at Adum behind the Ministries enclave, was formally handed over on Monday, July 28, 2025, paving the way for the construction of the country’s second law school campus.

The development marks a significant milestone in expanding access to legal education in Ghana.

Although plans to secure land for the Kumasi campus date as far back as 2003, the city’s branch of the Ghana School of Law has operated from the premises of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) since its establishment in 2010, largely through the efforts of the Asantehene.

Once completed, the new campus will feature modern facilities, including lecture halls, staff offices, a moot court, hostel accommodation, banking services, law firms, legal resource shops, a clinic, and other amenities to support comprehensive legal training.

Speaking on behalf of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Nana Samgba Gyafla II, Paramount Chief of the Sampa Traditional Area, reaffirmed the Ashanti Region’s commitment to advancing legal education and its vital role in national development.

Acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, described the development as a transformative step for legal education in Ghana.

He noted that while the Kumasi campus had long operated as a branch at KNUST, the new facility would usher in a new era of improved access and practical training for future lawyers.

“This campus will offer the next generation of lawyers greater opportunities for hands-on learning, keeping them close to the courts where justice is delivered,” he said.

He also urged faculty, the Bar, the Bench, and all stakeholders to lend their support to bring the project to fruition.

Director of the Ghana School of Law, Nana Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong, reflected on the challenges faced by students who previously had to relocate to Accra for professional legal training after their undergraduate studies in Kumasi.

“Until recently, it was unimaginable to become a lawyer in Ghana without passing through Makola in Accra,” he said. “Approval to establish the Kumasi campus was granted in 2010, and this year marks 15 years of that milestone. The new facility will further decentralize legal education and ensure more equitable access across the country.”

The new Kumasi campus is expected to become a centre for nurturing legal professionals grounded in integrity, service, and leadership.