Parliament Ends Ghana School of Law Monopoly with Landmark Legal Education Reform

Parliament Ends Ghana School of Law Monopoly with Landmark Legal Education Reform

March 26,2026

Ghana’s Parliament has passed the Legal Education Bill, 2025, introducing sweeping reforms to the country’s legal training system and ending the long-standing monopoly of the Ghana School of Law.

The legislation, now awaiting presidential assent, opens professional legal training to accredited universities nationwide, significantly expanding access to legal education.

A key feature of the new law is the establishment of a Council for Legal Education and Training, which will regulate legal education and ensure a standardized national curriculum. Under the framework, approved institutions will offer the Law Practice Training Course, enabling graduates to sit for a National Bar Examination.

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga described the move as a fulfillment of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s commitment to improving fairness and accessibility in legal education.

“As has been typical of the NDC, promises made are delivered. We promised law students reforms that ensure equity, fairness, and access to legal education, and today, we have delivered,” he stated.

However, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin urged the government to follow through on other campaign commitments, noting that while the reform is significant, many Ghanaians are still expecting progress in other areas.

The new law marks a major shift in Ghana’s legal education landscape, decentralizing professional training and creating broader opportunities for aspiring lawyers beyond the traditional system.