Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has described the passage of the Legal Education Act, 2026 (Act 1170), as a significant and well-considered move aimed at transforming legal education in Ghana.
The Act, which was passed by Parliament in March and later signed into law by President John Dramani Mahama last month, is expected to widen access to legal training while strengthening the preparation of future lawyers across the country.
Speaking at a colloquium on legal education reform themed “Implementing the Legal Education Act 2026: Institutional Readiness, Accreditation and the Future of Legal Training,” the Chief Justice said the reform represents an important opportunity for stakeholders to improve the quality and direction of legal education.
He called on universities, law faculties, and other key stakeholders to work together to address national challenges through stronger legal scholarship and research.
According to him, the success of the reforms will depend largely on how prepared institutions are to implement them effectively.
“The central question before us today is one of genuine readiness. Governance and regulatory preparedness must be substantive, not symbolic. Institutions must be able to put in place strategies that guarantee academic integrity,” he stated.
Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie further urged universities to position themselves adequately for the implementation phase, stressing the need for investment in modern training facilities.
He highlighted the importance of well-equipped moot courts, digital learning platforms, and other infrastructure to ensure students receive practical, high-quality legal training under the new framework.
