Mahama signs bill ending Ghana Law School monopoly on legal education

President John Dramani Mahama has signed the Legal Education Reform Bill, 2025, into law, ending the 66-year monopoly of the Ghana School of Law on professional legal education.

The new legislation expands access to professional legal training by allowing accredited universities in Ghana to offer professional law courses, a move expected to create more opportunities for aspiring lawyers nationwide.

President Mahama signed the bill while seated behind his desk at the Jubilee House as senior government officials looked on and applauded the historic moment.

“This particular Act has been one that many aspiring lawyers have been looking forward to,” President Mahama said before signing the document.

“It ensures the highest standards in terms of legal education but also open up the space for more opportunities in legal education. So let me sign it,” he added as officials in the room responded with a round of applause.

The reform marks a major shift in Ghana’s legal education system, which for decades limited professional legal training largely to the Ghana School of Law.

The previous arrangement had often attracted criticism from students, academics and legal professionals who argued that access to professional legal education was too restrictive.

Supporters of the reform believe the new law will help address the growing demand for legal education and reduce the bottlenecks that many law graduates faced in pursuing professional qualification.

Present at the signing ceremony were Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, Deputy Chief of Staff Valerie Sawyer, Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the President’s Special Aide Joyce Bawah Mogtari and Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong.

Legal analysts have argued that the implementation of the new law will require strong regulatory oversight to ensure accredited institutions maintain the standards required for professional legal training in Ghana.