Accra: Dr. Dominic Ayini, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has announced an initiative to reform Ghana’s legal education system to ensure equal access and quality training for aspiring legal professionals. A bill is being prepared to introduce a one-year law practice course for Bachelor of Laws graduates from accredited universities, which will soon be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration.

According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Ayini explained that the proposed law practice course will focus on practical subjects such as civil procedure, criminal procedure, advocacy and legal ethics, and the law of evidence. The announcement was made during the opening of the 2025/2026 Annual General Conference of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) in Wa, which focused on sustaining Ghana’s constitutional democracy and the role of the judiciary and legal profession.

Dr. Ayini highlighted the challenges posed by the rapid expansion of legal education in Ghana, which includes uneven quality of training, inadequate mentorship, and limited opportunities for practice. These issues underline the necessity for a re-examination of the country’s approach to legal education.

The Minister also criticized the GBA for its silence on the process of the removal of several key figures, including a former Chief Justice and the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, questioning the consistency of the Bar’s principles.

Additionally, Ms. Barbara Mills, President of the Bar Council of England and Wales, emphasized the Judiciary’s critical role in sustaining constitutional democracy. She underscored the importance of the Judiciary being independent and impartial to maintain public trust.