President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Yaw Acheampong Boafo stated that the organisation is against the continued accreditation of law faculties by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTECH).

Speaking at a meeting with the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, he explained that this accreditation has resulted in an influx of low-quality law graduates and a lack of pupillage opportunities for students.

“The reality of it is that there is an oversupply and it is caused unfortunately by GTECH thinking that it has a law, maybe another thing we can look at law reforms is that when it comes to study of symbol, architecture, engineering, where there is a professional body, the professional body must be part of the accreditation body. I am part of the General Legal Counsel inspection committee when we go around and see some of this faculty. The truth of the matter is that, they pretending to be teaching law," he said.

In response, the Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, Ahmed Jinapor, stated that the General Legal Council has always been involved in the accreditation of law programs.

He noted that there is a joint accreditation committee between the general legal counsel and GTECH, and that Justice Bonney is the chairperson of that committee.

Mr Jinapore added that the accreditation process is rigorous and transparent and that it ensures that only high-quality law programs are approved.

In response to these concerns, Dr. Mahamud Bawumia said he stated that he is committed to addressing these challenges if elected.

“Legal education is one that is being talked about out there and from your point of view what should  government be trying to do, there is sometimes the sense that there is a restriction on lawyers that are being educated. There is got to be some balance but I do not know from your point of view speaking on this issue on should we be approaching the issue of legal education.”