Excluding Chief Justice from GLC would have dire consequences on legal education – Kwasi Prempeh
The Ghana School of law has indicated the dire consequences Ghana’s Legal Education stands to face should the amendment of the Legal Professions Act 1960, Act 32 push through to exclude the Chief Justice from the General Legal Council.
Recently two lawmakers Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor of South Dayi and Francis-Xavier Sosu of the Madina constituency due to admission issues some students have to grapple with have tabled a Private Members Bill to amend the Legal Professions Act,1960, Act 32.
The bill is seeking to exclude the Chief Justice and other Supreme Court Justices from the General Legal Council as well as redefine its functions.
To avoid such issues within the legal education system, the Director of Legal Education Mr Kwasi Prempeh has called for a close collaboration between Parliament and the General Legal Council for a lasting solution to their grievances.
He expressed his view on the matter during a tour of the Ghana School of Law complex near UPSA, on November 2nd 2021.
“I think there should be more collaboration between Parliament and the General Legal Council. It is not just a question of just directing the GLC. You have to look at the resources that we have and all that before you can say, take these other people. The Chief Justice, not only is he in charge of the judiciary, he has played a crucial role in legal education.
“So to just exclude and call for his replacement, you must consider the fact that the GLC has been in existence since 1960 or so when it was established. They have run the education for a very long time,” he suggested.
A process has been commenced by the two lawmakers following the tabling of the Private Members Bill before Parliament to define the functions of the General Legal Council.
Constant calls for reforms in Ghana’s legal education system has been loud for so many years and now even louder and more pressing following the failure of large numbers of students who sit for the entrance exams.
The reforms in legal education they are requesting for is such that accredited Faculties of Law with the requisite facilities will be licensed to run professional law courses, “provide for discipline of lawyers and related matters to give effect to Article 37(1) of the 1992 Constitution.”
Another issue this call is being based on is the disgruntled 499 applicants who are currently in a legal tussle with the school over the pass mark and quota system and are seeking to also join their colleagues in the school because they believed they have met the requirements.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
