Independent Examinations Committee no longer has authority to conduct law school entrance exams – Dafeamekpor

The Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has clarified that the Independent Examinations Committee (IEC) no longer has the legal authority to organise entrance examinations for admission into law schools following the passage of Ghana’s new Legal Education Reform Law.

His comments come after President John Dramani Mahama assented to the Legal Education Reform Bill, 2025, a landmark legislation that ends the 66-year monopoly previously held by the Ghana School of Law over professional legal education in Ghana.

Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show on Tuesday, May 12, Mr Dafeamekpor addressed widespread public debate over whether entrance examinations would still be required for admission into law schools under the new framework.

He stated emphatically that the new law abolishes entrance examinations for admission into law schools, describing it as part of broader reforms aimed at standardising legal education and expanding access to the profession.

According to him, Section 90 of the new legislation—contained in the transitional provisions—repeals Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2355 of 2018, which previously granted the IEC the authority to conduct entrance examinations for admission into the Ghana School of Law.

“The repeal of those provisions means the IEC no longer has any legal mandate to conduct entrance examinations,” he explained.

Mr Dafeamekpor further criticised individuals and institutions that continue to organise preparatory classes for prospective law students based on the assumption that entrance examinations will still be conducted, insisting that such expectations are no longer supported by law.

He added that the new admission framework is clearly outlined under Section 45 of the legislation, which provides standardised criteria for entry into law schools across the country.

Under the reformed system, admission requirements will now be administered by the newly strengthened Council for Legal Education and Training, which is expected to oversee accreditation, regulation, and coordination of legal education nationwide.

The reform also opens the door for accredited universities to offer professional legal education programmes—an approach widely welcomed by stakeholders who have long argued that the previous system created bottlenecks and limited access to the legal profession.

Supporters of the reform say the changes will reduce barriers for qualified Bachelor of Laws (LLB) graduates while ensuring a more transparent and consistent admissions process across institutions.

However, some legal education stakeholders have previously expressed concerns about maintaining standards and quality assurance under a more decentralised system, making the role of the regulatory council critical in ensuring consistency.

President Mahama, who signed the bill into law on Monday, May 11, 2026, has stated that the reform is designed to strike a balance between expanding access to legal education and maintaining high professional standards.

“This ensures that we maintain the highest standards while creating the space many aspiring lawyers have long waited for,” the President noted at the signing ceremony.

The new law is expected to significantly reshape Ghana’s legal education landscape by decentralising admissions, increasing institutional participation, and redefining the role of the IEC in the admissions process.