GBA should have been consulted – Sam Okudzeto questions passage of Legal Education Bill

Former President of the Ghana Bar Association, Sam Okudzeto, has strongly criticised the passage of the Legal Education Bill, 2025, arguing that the legal profession was excluded from a major reform that directly affects its future.

Parliament of Ghana passed the Bill last week, introducing significant changes to the country’s legal education system. Among its key provisions is the removal of the monopoly previously held by the Ghana School of Law, allowing accredited universities to provide professional legal training.

The new law also establishes a Council for Legal Education and Training, which will oversee legal education and implement a national bar examination framework.

However, speaking on Joy News PM Express, Mr. Okudzeto expressed deep concern over what he described as the exclusion of the GBA from the legislative process.

“I had one complaint in the first place when this bill was proposed—the Ghana Bar Association was not involved at all, which I thought was rather strange,” he said.

He argued that reforms of such magnitude should have included direct input from the professional body representing lawyers across the country. According to him, the GBA’s nationwide structure—comprising regional leaders and representatives—makes it well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to such discussions.

“And yet nothing was referred to us. I think an application was made to Parliament for us to have an interview with the council, and it was never fulfilled,” he noted.

Mr. Okudzeto further revealed that the Association only became aware of the Bill’s passage after it had already been approved, describing the situation as troubling.

“We now heard that the law had been passed, so that’s a serious matter,” he stated.

He stressed that Parliament has a responsibility to consult relevant professional bodies when legislating on matters that directly impact them, insisting that collaboration is essential for effective and inclusive policymaking.