Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem Sai, has revealed that the government is working on a major overhaul of legal education in Ghana, with plans to introduce a National Bar Examination to replace the current Ghana School of Law system.
Speaking to 3 News, He stated that under the proposed reforms, accredited universities will be allowed to run the law practice program currently known as the Makola program after students complete their LLB. These universities will operate under strict accreditation standards that take into account faculty strength, teaching capacity, and institutional resources.
“The idea is that not every university will qualify. Only those with the right structures and qualified faculty will be accredited to run the professional program,” Justice Srem Sai explained. “For instance, if you attend the University of Ghana, you can complete your LLB and continue with the practice program there, subject to regulation by a new body.”
The proposed system will shift some of the professional law courses currently taught at the Ghana School of Law to the faculties of accredited universities. Subjects such as conveyancing and landlord-tenant law, which are already being taught at the undergraduate level, will be expanded to cover the necessary professional training.
Upon completion of the program, graduates will sit for a National Bar Examination to be conducted by a newly established National Bar Council. “You don’t need to come to Makola anymore. Once you are ready, you apply, sit for the exam, and if you pass, you’re called to the Bar,” he stated.
Justice Srem Sai disclosed that the frequency of the bar exams is still under discussion, but it could be held up to three times a year.
As for the Ghana School of Law, he noted that its current role will change. The facilities, owned by the General Legal Council and the Attorney-General’s Department, may be repurposed for post-call training, continuous professional development for lawyers, or other capacity-building programs.
“The Ghana School of Law will no longer be the compulsory institution where everyone must spend two years before being called to the Bar,” he emphasized.
On timelines, the Deputy Attorney-General revealed that the reviewed draft bill will be sent to Cabinet next month for consideration before heading to Parliament. “We believe that by the end of the year, it will come out as a bill, and hopefully implementation will begin the following year,” he added.
The proposed reforms are expected to broaden access to legal education while maintaining quality standards, a move long demanded by law students and practitioners.
