- "Legal education is like any other form of education… we must as always ensure that the opening of the law faculties is done with some level of scrutiny and quality assurance."
Panellists at the 2021 edition of TAG Series want legal education in Ghana to be easily accessible without compromising on quality in order to train more lawyers.
Talk, Act and Grow (TAG) Series is an Asaase Radio initiative that brings together thought leaders to contribute to insightful conversations that will stimulate action for socio economic development.
This year’s edition was held in association with GIMPA Law Review under the theme: “Legal education at the crossroads in Ghana.”
A Private legal practitioner and former law lecturer, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, said legal education is similar to any form of education in Ghana hence there must be a right to the practice.
Addo also added that due diligence should be done by the General Legal Council (GLC) before law faculties spring up in the country.
“We must always remember that there is a right to education. Legal education is like any other form of education… we must as always ensure that the opening of the law faculties is done with some level of scrutiny and quality assurance,” Addo said.
On her part, the Deputy attorney general, Diana Asonaba Dapaah, said that although there have been calls to open legal education in Ghana, quality should not be compromised.
Ensuring quality
“It’s not a blunt statement of opening up because we’ve clearly laid out the considerations that is required for a structured and robust legal education… Right to education does not discard a requirement of quality standard,” she said.
Speaking at the same programme, Clement Akapame, Senior lecturer, GIMPA Law Faculty, said the main challenge has been admission into the Ghana School of Law.
“We’ve over 11 faculties of law… there was an effort to credit some institutions all in the name of numbers. We’ve opened up the training units to accommodate others… Now we’ve KNUST, University of Ghana, UCC (University of Cape Coast), GIMPA and other private universities all going to the Ghana School of Law.
“So, that is where the problem is. It’s like driving on the four-lane motorway and ending up on a single lane. Definitely there has to be ways of meandering your way into the single lane.”
Watch the full programme in the attached video below:
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