Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has made a passionate appeal for urgent and meaningful reforms in Ghana’s legal education system, describing the current period as a defining moment for the future of the legal profession.
Speaking at the enrolment ceremony of 824 new lawyers in Accra on Friday, October 10, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie emphasized that his tenure begins at a pivotal time—one that demands both reflection and bold action.
“My appointment comes at a defining moment—a season both for reflection and urgent reform in legal education in our beloved Ghana,” he stated.
The Acting Chief Justice highlighted the growing pressures facing the legal education sector:
- A backlog of aspiring students seeking admission to the Ghana School of Law
- Concerns about educational quality
- Inadequate infrastructure
- And the pressing need to modernize amidst rapid technological change
Despite these challenges, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie offered a hopeful perspective:
“Challenges must not be seen as signs of decay but banks of renewal. The difficulties we face today are the very light that must illuminate our path forward.”
He acknowledged the ongoing national discourse surrounding legal education, where hope and frustration often collide in the public space.
“The airwaves are already thick with the news of reforms, as hope and frustration for the aspiring lawyer intermingle in equal measure,” he noted.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie urged the Ghana School of Law, under the General Legal Council and in partnership with key stakeholders, to seize this opportunity for lasting and visionary reform.
“The reforms we pursue must go beyond merely increasing student numbers. We must refine the very purpose of legal education to meet the demands of the 21st century.”
