Ghana has abolished entrance examinations for admission into its law schools, effective immediately. The new Legal Education Reform Bill, 2025, signed by President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, May 11, 2026, officially ends these exams.
This change means all accredited law schools will now follow standardised admission processes. The reforms aim to ensure fairness and consistency in how students enter legal education. This move follows years of advocacy for broader access to the legal profession.
These reforms represent a significant shift in Ghana's legal education landscape. The new law ends the 66-year monopoly held by the Ghana School of Law over professional legal education. This historical dominance had often been criticised for creating bottlenecks and limiting the number of qualified lawyers in the country. The expanded access could boost the overall number of legal professionals available to support Ghana's expanding economy and legal needs.
Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the Majority Chief Whip, confirmed these changes in an interview on JoyNews' The Pulse. He stated that the previous entrance exams "no longer exist effective immediately." He also clarified that any future examination by the Ghana School of Law would require approval from the Council for Legal Education and Training. This ensures uniformity across all institutions.
The abolition of entrance exams will likely lead to an increase in the number of students pursuing legal studies. Decision-makers will closely monitor how this expansion affects the quality of legal graduates and their integration into the job market. Universities seeking to offer legal education programmes must undergo rigorous verification and inspection processes. These steps ensure that new institutions maintain high academic standards.
President Mahama highlighted that the legislation aims to achieve two key goals: maintain quality and expand access. This balance is crucial for a country experiencing rapid development and requiring a robust legal framework. The reforms could also stimulate competition among higher education institutions, leading to improved legal curricula and teaching methods. The impact on the judiciary and the broader legal services sector will be a key area to watch in the coming years. This policy change reflects a commitment to modernising Ghana's educational system and making essential professions more accessible to its citizens.