The Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, has accused former Ghana Bar Association (GBA) president, Sam Okudzeto, of consistently opposing reforms within the legal profession.

His comments come amid growing controversy over the newly passed Legal Education Bill, which has drawn criticism from sections of the legal community, including Mr Okudzeto, who claims the Ghana Bar Association was sidelined in the process.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News, the Chief Whip, Dafeamekpor, rejected the criticism and questioned Mr Okudzeto’s stance on legal reforms.

“As far back as 2021, Francis Xavier Sosu and I submitted a private member’s bill in Parliament for legal reforms. The same Samuel Okudzeto told us on Joy FM… that over his dead body would it happen,” he said.

“So he’s been somebody who has been so opposed to reforms within the legal profession,” he added

Mr Dafeamekpor said that the current backlash against the Legal Education Bill must be understood in that context, suggesting that resistance to change has been longstanding.

The bill, which seeks to overhaul legal education by decentralising professional training and expanding access beyond the Ghana School of Law, has sparked debate over its potential impact on standards and regulation within the profession.

Mr Okudzeto, a former Council of State member, has been among the most vocal critics, insisting that the GBA was not adequately consulted before the bill was passed.

Read also: GBA should have been consulted – Sam Okudzeto questions passage of Legal Education Bill

However, Mr Dafeamekpor dismissed that claim as inaccurate, maintaining that due process was followed and that the GBA did participate in the process.

“First of all, it is an absolute falsehood… to allege that the Ghana Bar Association as an entity was not consulted or involved in the process,” he said.

He explained that Parliament followed constitutional procedures by inviting memoranda from the public after the bill was laid.

“All stakeholders were given opportunities to present memoranda. That is the requirement of law in the Constitution,” he stated.

According to him, the current leadership of the GBA submitted input that was considered during deliberations. “The current Bar President presented a memorandum to Parliament to be considered, which was considered,” he added.

“It is inaccurate for anybody to suggest that the Ghana Bar Association was not involved. They are not the only stakeholders,” he said.