A Senior Law Lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Clement Akapame, has described Ghana’s new legal education reforms as a welcome development, while urging further improvements in the law’s implementation and scope.
Speaking on the reforms following the passage of the Legal Education Reform Bill, 2025 on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday May 13, Mr. Akapame said the move marks an important milestone, especially as Ghana has waited over six decades for such changes to its legal training system.
He noted that the reforms are generally positive because they help open up access to professional legal education, particularly at the post-university level.
“It’s great that we’ve taken this leap to reform legal education,” he said, adding that the new framework improves access for law graduates seeking professional training.
However, he argued that the legislation does not go far enough in expanding the broader scope of legal education in the country.
According to him, the law could have addressed additional areas such as the training of paralegals, support legal staff, and the structure of pupilage and post-professional training.
From his perspective as a legal educator, Mr. Akapame said he expected a more comprehensive reform that would widen the frontiers of legal training beyond just lawyers.
He also noted that while the law is intended to improve access, its implementation will be critical, warning that challenges are likely to emerge as it is rolled out.
Mr. Akapame called for gradual implementation of the new framework, urging stakeholders to ensure clarity in key areas of the law, especially in defining what constitutes a law programme.
He explained that the legislation appears to distinguish between the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and professional law practice training, but said there is still ambiguity that needs to be resolved.
He further pointed to potential overlap between regulatory institutions, noting that both the Legal Education framework and the General Legal Council have roles that may require closer coordination.
According to him, there is a thin line between legal education and legal professional regulation, and without proper collaboration, implementation challenges could arise.
Mr. Akapame said he expects further clarification from policymakers in the coming days to guide students and institutions as the reforms take effect.
He stressed that while the reforms are broadly welcome, their success will depend on how effectively they are implemented and coordinated among key stakeholders.
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