Confusion surrounding Ghana’s legal education reforms has left law students uncertain about whether they will sit entrance examinations this year, with MP Ekow Vincent Assafuah calling for urgent clarity from authorities.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (12 May), the Old Tafo lawmaker said while he supports the reforms, their implementation has been poorly communicated.
“A law must bring certainty. As we speak today, there is confusion,” he said.
Conflicting signals
The uncertainty stems from mixed messages following the law’s passage.
While some officials have suggested the entrance exam has been abolished, institutions have continued to signal that exams may still take place.
Assafuah pointed to a previously published exam date of July 31, 2026, and internal university communications advising students to prepare.
“Students do not know whether they are writing the exam or not,” he said.
Implementation gaps
The MP argued that key institutional structures required under the new law—including governing councils and accreditation bodies—have not yet been established.
Without these, he said, it would be impractical to admit students under a new system that eliminates entrance exams.
“In practice, the architecture needed for implementation has not been set up,” he said.
He also questioned why government officials have indicated that full implementation may depend on the 2027 budget, suggesting delays contradict claims of immediate reform.
Assafuah urged authorities, particularly the Attorney-General and relevant regulatory bodies, to provide clear, authoritative guidance.
He emphasised that students need adequate time to prepare if exams are to proceed.
“Examinations are not ambush exercises. Students must know in advance,” he said.
Quality concerns
While backing broader access to legal education, Assafuah warned against prioritising quantity over quality.
He stressed the need for careful planning to ensure that expanding admissions does not dilute professional standards.
He indicated that continued uncertainty could prompt collective action, including advocacy by law students, to demand accountability.
“We support the reform, but it must be implemented properly,” he said.
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