Ghana opens legal training to universities after 68 years, ends School of Law’s monopoly

John Mahama has officially signed the Legal Education Reform Bill (2025) into law, opening professional legal training to accredited universities across Ghana and ending the long-standing monopoly of the Ghana School of Law.

The landmark reform, signed on Monday, May 11, 2026, introduces a new legal education framework aimed at expanding access to professional legal training while maintaining high standards within the legal profession.

Ghana Ends Ghana School of Law's Monopoly

The bill, which was passed by Parliament on March 26, 2026, allows accredited universities to provide structured professional legal education for aspiring lawyers.

Also readPatience Akyianu, former Barclays Bank Ghana MD and Hollard CEO, reportedly dies

For decades, the Ghana School of Law remained the country’s only institution authorised to offer professional legal training, creating a major bottleneck for thousands of law graduates seeking admission into the legal profession.

Speaking during the signing ceremony at the Jubilee House, President Mahama said the reform is intended to strike a balance between regulation and opportunity.

“Regulate legal education and ensure the highest standards in terms of legal education, but also open up a space for more opportunities for legal education in Ghana.”

New Council to Oversee Legal Education

Dominic Ayine confirmed that implementation of the new law will begin immediately with the establishment of a Council for Legal Education and Training.

Also readL.I. 2519: Full list of road traffic offences and jail terms in Ghana

According to him, the council will regulate legal education, set professional standards, and oversee accreditation of universities approved to run the Law Practice Training Course.

“Immediate implementation will start with the establishment of the Council for Legal Education, which is the body that will oversee legal education in the country.”

He further disclosed that budgetary allocations for the implementation process will be included in Ghana’s 2027 national budget.

Universities to Offer Law Practice Training

Under the new legal education system, accredited universities will be permitted to run professional law practice training courses.

Also readAccra-Kumasi Expressway: Route, interchanges, distance and key details of the 198.7km project

After completing the programme, candidates will sit for a National Bar Examination to qualify as lawyers in Ghana.

The reform is expected to significantly increase opportunities for law graduates who previously struggled to gain admission into the Ghana School of Law due to limited intake capacity.

Debate Over Quality Assurance Continues

Although the reform has been widely praised for improving access to legal education, discussions continue within legal and academic circles over quality assurance, accreditation standards, and readiness for implementation.

The Ghana School of Law, established in 1958 under Kwame Nkrumah, has trained over 12,000 legal professionals since producing its first lawyers in 1963.