The Council for Legal Education and Training (CLET) in Ghana has introduced its new 11-member Board of Members, with Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie at the helm. This development is part of efforts to enhance legal education and training in the country. The board comprises senior members of the judiciary, government officials, and academics from prominent law schools and tertiary institutions in Ghana.
The members of the new board include Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, a Justice of the Supreme Court, and Justice Jennifer Abena Dadzie, a Justice of the Court of Appeal. Other members are Her Honour Siran Mahama, a Circuit Court Judge, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, and Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, Deputy Minister for Education. The board also includes Prof. Augustine Ocloo, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and Prof. Kofi Abotsi, Dean of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School.
The board further consists of Prof. Peter Atudiwe Atupare, Dean of the University of Ghana School of Law, Prof. Cynthia Forson, Deputy Provost of Lancaster University, and Prof. Raymond Atuguba, Director-General for Legal Education. This diverse composition ensures representation from the judiciary, ministries responsible for justice and education, the tertiary education regulator, and major law faculties. The inclusion of senior judicial officers, government representatives, and academics is expected to provide comprehensive oversight across different areas involved in legal education and professional training.
CLET is responsible for overseeing aspects of legal education and professional legal training in Ghana, including the administration of the Ghana School of Law and related regulatory functions. The establishment of the new board is a significant step towards implementing reforms in legal education, following the passage of the Legal Education Act. The Ghana Bar Association has previously called for the operationalisation of the legislation and the establishment of its governing structures to advance reforms in legal education.
The new board's composition and mandate are expected to provide the institutional framework needed to drive reforms in legal education. With Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie at the helm, the board will be expected to take forward its responsibilities under the legal education framework. This includes providing oversight for the development and administration of legal education and training in Ghana. The board's establishment is a positive development in Ghana's efforts to enhance its legal education system.
The Council for Legal Education and Training Board will play a crucial role in shaping the future of legal education in Ghana. With its diverse membership and comprehensive mandate, the board is well-positioned to drive meaningful reforms and improvements in the country's legal education system. The inclusion of senior judicial officers, government representatives, and academics ensures that the board has the necessary expertise and oversight to effectively carry out its responsibilities.
The establishment of the new board is a significant milestone in Ghana's efforts to reform its legal education system. The board's work will be closely watched by stakeholders, including the Ghana Bar Association, law schools, and the judiciary. As the board begins its work, it is expected to make a positive impact on the country's legal education system, ultimately contributing to the development of a more effective and efficient justice system in Ghana.
Key points
- Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie leads the new 11-member Council for Legal Education and Training Board in Ghana.
- The board's composition ensures representation from the judiciary, ministries responsible for justice and education, the tertiary education regulator, and major law faculties.
- The establishment of the new board is a significant step towards implementing reforms in legal education, following the passage of the Legal Education Act.
