The Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, has rejected claims that the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) was sidelined in the passage of the newly approved Legal Education Bill.

His comments come amid growing criticism of the legislation, with some stakeholders warning that the bill could have far-reaching consequences for legal education and the future of the profession in Ghana.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News, Mr Dafeamekpor described the allegations as misleading, insisting that the legislative process followed due procedure and allowed for broad stakeholder participation.

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

He explained that Parliament adhered to constitutional requirements by inviting input from the public once the bill was introduced.

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

According to him, there is no legal basis for Parliament to refer a bill specifically to the GBA outside the established process.

“There’s no process, there’s no legal basis for Parliament to prepare a bill that has been properly laid before it to the Ghana Bar Association. What kind of law is that?” he questioned.

Mr Dafeamekpor said the bill was referred to the appropriate parliamentary committee after its first reading, in line with procedure.

“The committee concerned will invite memoranda from the public, and that is what we did,” he added.

The Legal Education Bill, which seeks to reform legal training by decentralising professional education and expanding access beyond the Ghana School of Law, has faced opposition from sections of the legal community.

Former GBA President Sam Okudzeto has said that the association was excluded from the process. However, Mr Dafeamekpor dismissed this claim and suggested that Mr Okudzeto has long opposed reforms in the sector.

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

He further pointed out that the current leadership of the GBA did, in fact, engage with Parliament. “The current Bar President presented a memorandum to Parliament to be considered, which was considered,” he stated.

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

Mr Dafeamekpor also responded to concerns raised by the Minority in Parliament, who claim their views were ignored during deliberations.

He said that members of the Minority, were actively involved throughout the process.

“They run the committee that considered the bill. The Ranking Member on the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee is an NPP MP,” he said.

He specifically referenced contributions made by Minority MP John Darko. “On the floor during consideration, he made considerable input into the bill. He proposed several amendments, and they were carried,” Mr Dafeamekpor said.

He described continued public criticism from within Parliament as unacceptable.

“To go out and sit on the radio or TV and try to scandalise the bill after it has been passed into law is totally unacceptable on the part of a Member of Parliament,” he stated.

Addressing fears about the quality of legal training under the new system, Mr Dafeamekpor insisted that the reforms would strengthen, not weaken, standards.

“In fact, in this new law, standards have been heightened on the part of both the training institutions and the students,” he said.

He added that the requirements to qualify as a lawyer under the new framework are more demanding than before.

“The requirements we have to go through under this new law are more stringent than under the existing law. Let us be careful with the implementation. Let us deal with the implementation and see how it goes,” he said.

Mr Dafeamekpor also rejected suggestions that the reforms would lead to a decline in professional standards.

“Don’t let anybody be heard to be saying that the present law will produce mass lawyers who will be inefficient or incompetent,” he said.