The Central Law School of Central University hosted a colloquium on legal education reform on Thursday, 11 June 2026, at the Christ Temple Campus, Abossey Okai, Accra. The event brought together legal practitioners, academics, policymakers, students, and other stakeholders to deliberate on the implementation of the Legal Education Act, 2026 (Act 1170) and the future of legal training in Ghana.

The Chief Justice, Vice-Chancellor of Central University, and other key stakeholders used the platform to reflect on the direction of legal education reform, particularly the need to expand access while safeguarding academic and professional standards. There was broad consensus that the reforms must produce competent, ethical, and globally competitive lawyers capable of responding to evolving legal and societal demands.

Speakers emphasised institutional readiness, collaboration among law faculties, and strengthened accreditation systems as critical pillars for the successful implementation of the new legal education framework.

The colloquium also underscored the need to modernise legal training to reflect technological change, promote research and innovation, and align Ghana’s legal education with international best practices.

Below are 10 key takeaways from the Central Law School colloquium on the new legal reform as highlighted by speakers.

Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie

1. Expansion of access must not weaken standards

He stressed that reforms will widen opportunities but must preserve competence, integrity, professionalism, and credibility.

2. “Access must never mean lowered standards”

He reaffirmed that quality assurance remains central to the success of legal education reform.

3. Lawyers are custodians of justice and the rule of law

He reminded students that legal training produces officers of the court and defenders of constitutional governance.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samuel Kwasi Dartey-Baah

4. Legal education must be modern, strong, and forward-looking

He called for a system anchored on strong institutions, quality faculty, infrastructure, intellectual rigour, African values, and service.

5. The goal is to produce better lawyers, not just more lawyers

He emphasised competence, ethics, and global competitiveness as the core outcomes of reform.

6. Legal training must respond to digital transformation

He highlighted the need to prepare students for AI, cybersecurity, and a rapidly evolving global legal environment.

Kwaku Ansa-Asare (Chairman, Founder of MountCrest University College)

7. Collaboration is essential to successful reform

He urged law faculties to deepen cooperation in training, research, and academic exchange.

8. Competition must give way to partnership

He stressed that sustainable improvement depends on institutional cooperation, not rivalry.

9. Reform requires collective institutional responsibility

He called for shared accountability among regulators, academia, and law schools.

Prof. Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah (Dean, Central University Law School)

10. Legal education must become more responsive and relevant

He emphasised the need for a system that equips graduates to meet modern legal and national development challenges.