Accra, March 26, – Parliament has passed the Legal Education Reform Bill, 2026, paving the way for broader access to legal training and a restructured system for admitting lawyers in Ghana.
The legislation, once assented to by the President, will authorise accredited university Faculties of Law to provide professional legal training and participate in administering a unified national bar examination.
Mr Mahama Ayariga, Majority Leader, commended Members of Parliament for their bipartisan contributions, describing the Bill as a comprehensive framework to reform legal education.
He said the passage fulfilled a longstanding commitment by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to open up access to the legal profession.
However, Minority Leader Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin maintained that while the Bill was significant, other key promises remained outstanding, including the establishment of a Women’s Development Bank and the implementation of the “One Job, Three Shifts” policy.
The Bill was initially laid before Parliament on October 24, 2025, by Mr Dominic Ayine, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General.
Presenting the explanatory memorandum, Mr Ayine said the reform sought to end the long-standing monopoly of the Ghana School of Law as the sole institution responsible for training lawyers in the country.
He explained that the new framework would enhance access while maintaining high professional standards.
Mr Ayariga further indicated that the Bill provides for the establishment of a National Council for Legal Education, which will oversee accreditation of law faculties and supervise the national bar examination.
He said the reforms would create a fair and transparent pathway for qualified individuals to enter the legal profession.
Members from both sides of the House welcomed the expansion of opportunities but stressed the need to safeguard the quality and integrity of legal training.
They cautioned that while widening access was important, strict regulatory measures must be enforced to maintain professional standards.
The passage of the Bill marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s legal education reforms, with Parliament signalling its commitment to balancing accessibility with excellence in the training of legal practitioners.
GHBUSS
26 March 2026
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