Concerns are mounting over the implementation of Ghana’s newly assented Legal Education Reform Act, 2026, as the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has demanded urgent clarity from government on whether prospective law students will still be required to sit for entrance examinations into the Ghana School of Law this year.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Clarity, Not Confusion: The Unanswered Questions After Assent to the Legal Education Reforms Bill 2025,” shared on Facebook, Lawyer Assafuah welcomed President John Dramani Mahama’s assent to the Legal Education Reform Bill but insisted that critical questions affecting current and prospective law students remain unanswered.
The controversy follows an announcement by the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, who disclosed in a social media post that he joined key government officials, including the Attorney General, the Chief of Staff, the Finance Minister, Dr. Valerie Sawyerr and Hon. Marietta Brew, to witness the presidential assent to the new law.
Reacting to the development, the Old Tafo MP stated that although the assent was a positive step, the government had failed to provide clarity on the most pressing concern confronting thousands of law graduates.
“While the alleged post provides information about the assent, it remains vague on the very issue students urgently seek clarity on: WHETHER OR NOT STUDENTS (including the backlog) WILL BE REQUIRED TO WRITE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION TO THE GHANA SCHOOL OF LAW THIS YEAR,” he stressed.
Lawyer Assafuah recalled that in an earlier response to concerns raised by the Minority, the Majority Chief Whip had argued that no official announcement had been made regarding entrance examinations for the 2026 academic year.
Quoting directly from Mr Dafeamekpor’s earlier comments, he stated: “Let the record further reflect that the Ghana School of Law has issued no official public advertisement directing prospective students to sit for any entrance examination slated for 31st July 2026, contrary to the panic and misinformation being circulated through partisan commentary and social media propaganda.”
According to the Old Tafo legislator, such comments created the impression that entrance examinations would not be conducted this year, despite the fact that the Independent Examination Council had already scheduled the examination for July 31, 2026.
“Yet, despite our detailed clarification to him that it is the Independent Examination Council (IEC), and not the Ghana School of Law, that schedules and conducts these examinations, he continued to create false expectations among students,” he stated.
He further described the conduct of the Majority Chief Whip as “reckless,” accusing him of “toying with the future of law students” by creating uncertainty surrounding the examination process.
The MP noted that after the Minority responded extensively to the Majority Chief Whip’s earlier remarks, the latter failed to address the substantive concerns raised by students and parents.
“He has now resurfaced only to comment on the presidential assent while deliberately avoiding the real question regarding the status of current law students and the impending entrance examinations,” he added.
Lawyer Assafuah maintained that although the Minority welcomes the President’s assent as a demonstration of government’s commitment to reforming legal education, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive roadmap on implementation.
“I therefore call on the team involved in today’s assent process to, as a matter of urgency, hold a press conference or issue an official statement outlining the modalities for implementing the new Legal Education Act,” he demanded.
“Most importantly, they must clearly state WHETHER OR NOT ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS TO THE GHANA SCHOOL OF LAW WILL STILL BE CONDUCTED THIS YEAR, and whether the Independent Examination Council will proceed with the scheduled examination,” he stressed.
He further argued that if government intends to proceed with the examinations, the date should be extended to give students adequate time to prepare.
“Students who sat for the Ghana School of Law entrance examination last year did so on 12th September 2025. A similar timeline can reasonably be adopted this year instead of the hurried 31st July 2026 schedule,” he proposed.
The Old Tafo MP also demanded what he described as “an unqualified public apology” from government over the anxiety and uncertainty caused to students.
“We shall demand an unqualified public apology from the government for the unnecessary anxiety, confusion, and distress caused to students by the reckless conduct and pronouncements of its agent, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor,” he stated.
Ending his statement on a hopeful note, Lawyer Assafuah sought to reassure law students and parents that their aspirations remain achievable despite the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the reforms.
“To my colleagues, parents, and all law students across the country, your dreams remain valid and attainable despite these unfortunate inefficiencies and glaring incompetence on the part of the government and its agents,” he declared.
“I remain resolute and will continue to fight to ensure that the right thing is done to protect your future and aspirations. Aluta Continua!”
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