Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency revealed that the National Democratic Congress’ promise to make flexible the country’s legal education system will not compromise quality and churn out good lawyers.
Throwing more light on the policy, Mr. Ablakwa disclosed that, the establishment of a Legal Education Council and by extension reforms by the NDC will increase access and produce quality lawyers at a go.
“On the matter of legal education, if you look at our rendition, we have been more nuanced. We’re not just siding with students, wholesale, and saying let everyone go and let’s throw quality and gatekeeping to the dogs. We know that there is a need to expand access but we must maintain standards. So we are talking about the possibility of establishing some Legal Education Council like the National Council for Tertiary Education and National Accreditation Board that deals with quality at the tertiary level.
“We will find a fine balance between increasing access and making sure students get access and at the same time ensure quality to avoid producing lawyers without the credibility that they deserve. We believe that the current status quo is not the best, not the way to go and there is the need to open up and reforms are certainly needed at this point”.
John Mahama on September 7, 2020, promised to undertake vigorous legal educational reforms if he is elected president on December 7, 2020.
“The NDC reaffirms its unwavering conviction to the cardinal role of education in molding the human resource of our nation and shaping a progressive and transformative destiny. As a Social Democratic party, which puts people first, it is our firm belief that the human resource of our great nation is the most valuable asset. It is, therefore, our resolve that no child is left behind.
“We shall place emphasis on quality, access, affordability and relevance with our new approach to delivering education to all Ghanaians.
“The NDC government will vigorously reform and expand access to professional legal education and provide opportunities to all qualified LLB holders by granting accreditation to certified law faculties to undertake the professional law qualification course review the Legal Profession Act in consultation with stakeholders, and establish a Council for legal education and training, to accredit certified law faculties to run the Professional Law Course subject to the oversight supervision of the Council”.
Also, John Mahama disclosed that his government will establish a faculty of law in the Northern Region to serve the northern sector.
