NALS students president hails expansion of legal education in Ghana

Hassan Asare, President of the National Association of Law Students (NALS), welcomes changes in Ghana’s legal education. He calls them “long overdue” and “a step in the right direction.”

On May 27, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Majority Chief Whip, spoke on Joy News’ PM Express. He stated that the Legal Education Bill will end the Ghana School of Law's monopoly over legal training.

Mr. Asare is pleased with efforts to expand access to legal education. He noted that relying on a single law school has hindered aspiring lawyers.

He said, “This is one of the best pieces of news we can applaud.” He pointed out that there are many law faculties but only one Ghana School of Law. This situation does not make sense.

Asare criticized the General Legal Council (GLC) for being outdated. He referenced the 2021 incident where 499 qualified students were denied entry into law school due to a controversial policy.

“In 2021, we protested over the 499 students,” he said. “Everyone knew the decision was wrong, but they held onto it anyway.” He believes the GLC should be dissolved.

He also mentioned the financial burden on students who must study abroad due to limited local spaces. This situation drains Ghana’s foreign exchange reserves.

“Many law students are forced to travel outside,” he explained. “This is money leaving Ghana that could have been invested here.” More local opportunities would help retain talent and resources.

However, Mr. Asare emphasized that expansion must ensure quality assurance. He called for strict adherence to accreditation standards in legal education.

“If you’re accrediting these faculties, there must be systems in place,” he said. Proper regulation can maintain quality without dilution, supported by Article 25 of the Constitution.

The NALS President reaffirmed their commitment to reforming legal education in Ghana. “This is applaudable and commendable,” he concluded. “We are ready to support this initiative at every level.”