The year 2025 marked 50 years since a group of talented Ghanaians were called to the Bar in Ghana. Those who were on that list have contributed in multiple and diverse ways to the legal system in their own right.

Those called to the Ghana Bar in 1975 on varying dates include Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (8 July), Fui Tsikata (20 January), ⁠Nana Ato Dadzie (8 August), Nii Osah Mills (2 October), and Francis Buor (2 October).

Others are⁠Tsatsu Tsikata (8 August), ⁠Alex Bafuor Gyimah (2 October), ⁠Devine K D Letsa (2 October), Nana Adjei Ampofo (2 October), Nasiru Sulemana Gbadegbe (2 October), and Kofi Adu Labi (2 October).

Also in the 1975 group were ⁠Larry Bimi, Kofi Akainyah, Yaw Barimah, Emma Amakye, ⁠Peter Addo, Ennin Nsaful, Felix Ntrakwah, Robert Tachie-Menson, Sophia Akuffo, Alfred Benin, Vida Akoto Bamfo, Mohammed Mumuni, and Kojo Bentsi-Enchill, most of whom were called on 2 October.

The records point to the fact that in the early 70s, people were called to the Bar at varying dates depending on when the candidate to be called was certified. Some other members of this year group are not named in this article because they crossed from the Bar to the bench.

Several landmark cases in Ghana’s jurisprudence, which have helped to shape the nation’s judiciary, were handled by these gallant and eminent members of the Ghana Bar.

Kojo Bentsi-Enchill, through his practice, has built what is now the number-one law firm in Ghana. Alfred Benin and Vida Akoto Bamfo also served as justices of the Supreme Court of Ghana.

Fui Tsikata became a prominent academic force in the study of the law in Ghana, and Nana Ato Dadzie rose to become chief of staff in the Office of the President under the Rawlings regime.

Nasiru Sulemana Gbadegbe also became a celebrated justice of the High Court, Court of Appeal, and then the Supreme Court. Sophia Akuffo also rose to become the Chief Justice of the Republic during the Akufo-Addo presidency.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo became one of the star barristers in Ghana’s history, with many landmark cases to his name. Between 7 January 2017 and 7 January 2025, he occupied the highest office of the land as the fifth constitutionally elected president of the Fourth Republic in Ghana.

Regulation of the legal profession

The General Legal Council (GLC) is the main regulatory body for the conduct and administration of legal education and the legal profession in Ghana.

By its set-up, the Council is authorised to determine the policy and focus of legal education and training, as well as the regulation of professional legal practice and ancillary matters.

The sitting Chief Justice is the chairperson of the Council, and the Judicial Secretary is its secretary, serving together with other appointed members, including the three seniormost Supreme Court justices, the Attorney General and his/her nominee, the president, vice-president, and secretary of the Ghana Bar Association, and the president of the Ashanti regional Bar.

Conventionally, the GLC convenes a formal meeting on the first Friday of October to enrol and call to the Ghana Bar candidates who have successfully sat the Professional Law Examination.

The membership of the Council reflects a balance between academics, practitioners, and judges, which represents the various facets of legal education, training, and practice.

Practising law

In Ghana, all lawyers who wish to practise within the jurisdiction must first obtain a licence issued by the GLC.

Failure to do so constitutes an offence under Ghanaian law. The Council has put in place a mechanism for licensing lawyers and has been assisted by the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) in implementing this licensing regime.

Lawyers seeking to secure or renew their licences must contact the GBA offices to complete the necessary procedures.

All licences issued are the preserve of the Council and, accordingly, the Council reserves the right to issue, suspend, and cancel licences issued to lawyers.