A former Director of the Ghana Law School, Kwaku Ansa-Asare, has expressed that the 499 candidates who were denied admission to the Ghana School of Law must be told the truth and encouraged to study harder.
According to him, the Ghana School of Law, in its public notice, did not guarantee admission to candidates who will obtain at least 50% in the exam. . Mr Kwaku Ansa-Asare explained that the students, instead of going to court, must have done due diligence in understanding what the legal process entails.
“If anybody is aggrieved, then the persons who feel aggrieved must look at the provision of L.I. 2355 before embarking on any cause. These are impending lawyers, they must be told that you don’t gain admission to the law school through the court of public opinion. They should be encouraged to study harder and pass next time”.
Mr Kwaku Ansa-Asare
The former Director of the Ghana Law School condemned Parliament on its approach in handling and resolving the issue. Kwaku Ansa-Asare explained that Parliament’s actions is rather creating false hopes for the candidates.
Justifying his stance, he noted that the directive from Parliament was without legal basis.
“Nowhere in the constitution has it been expressly stated that Parliament can intervene in such matters. The Legal Professions Act states clearly that the Council shall in the performance of their functions comply with any general directions given to them by the Minister. Parliament is not the Minister and therefore, it should not wade into this unnecessary legal banter”.
Mr Kwaku Ansa-Asare
Mr Ansa-Asare expressed his shock over Parliament’s decision and reminded the legislators that the General Legal Council is the only statutory body responsible for any administration of legal education in Ghana.
We will withhold your budget
Earlier, Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, intimated that Parliament will withhold the budget of the General Legal Council if the 499 LLB students who obtained the pass mark in the law entrance exams are not admitted as directed by the House.
Mr Dafeamekpor, expressing his concern over the response to Parliament by the Attorney General stated that he was “scandalized” by his decision and the “tone” of response. He indicated that AG is “fighting a turf war” with Parliament.
The South Dayi legislator asserted that parliament is “waiting for them, they should bring their budget”, he explained after he had quizzed the GLC’s conduct.
“Why wouldn’t we withhold their budget if they fail to admit the students? If you are not performing your functions to the best of your ability we will withhold your budget”.
Mr Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor
Mr Dafeamekpor insisted that if Parliament, following the agitations gives a directive, what the Attorney General should be saying is “indeed we are grateful that Parliament has passed a resolution to this effect but the good news is that the President has also directed me”.
“So, with the support from Parliament and with the instruction from the President you are in a firm position to take progressive steps to get the GLC to admit them. This is how the AG should be speaking”.
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