The Director of Legal Education, Kwasi Prempeh-Eck, has cautioned thatany amendment of the Legal Professions Act, 1960, (Act 32) that will exclude the Chief Justice from the General Legal Council will have dire consequences on the nation’s legal education.
He called for close collaboration between Parliament and the General Legal Council to address some of the nuances to avoid dire consequences on legal education.
Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor and Francis-Xavier Sosu, Members of Parliament (MPs) for South Dayi in the Volta Regionand Madina in the Greater Accra Region respectively, have indicated to Parliament to direct the Legislative Drafting Department to put together a Private Member’s Bill to amend the Legal Professions Act, 1960 (Act 32).
It will, among other issues, seek to amend Act 32, to exclude the Chief Justice as well as other Justices of the Supreme Court fromGeneral Legal Council and redefine its functions.
The two MPs have begun processes to table Private Member’s Bill before Parliament to redefine functions of Council informed by calls for reforms to the nation’s legal education regime and Memo to Clerk of Parliament requested Legislative Drafting Office to draft subsequent submission to the Speaker.
Speaking to journalists during tour of Ghana School of Law Complex near University of Professional Studies Accra, Mr Prempeh-Eck stressed on the need for more collaboration between Parliament and Council and not directing it.
“We have to look at resources we have and before we can take other people and the Chief Justice, not only is he in charge of the judiciary but plays crucial role in legal education and to exclude and call for his replacement must considerCouncil has been in existence since 1960 when it was established,” he suggested.
The MPs want reforms in legal education such that accredited Faculties of Law with requisite facilities will be licensed to run professional law courses and provide for discipline of lawyers and related issues to give effect to Article 37(1) of the 1992 Constitution
The call is being made at a time 499 candidates who were part of those who sat for 2021 entrance examination were failed after new quota system was introduced by Council after examination with affected candidates agitating and calling for Council to rescind decision to include all 499 students who attained 50 percent pass mark. –citinewsroom.com
