General News of Monday, 7 October 2019

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

#RedMonday demonstrators hit the road to demand legal education reforms

Only 128 students of the 1,820 candidates passed this year Only 128 students of the 1,820 candidates passed this year

Law students across the country are on a demonstration exercise to the Jubilee House to demand reforms in the country’s legal education system.

The move follows the recent mass failure recorded at the Ghana School of Law with only 128 students of the 1,820 candidates who passed this year’s entrance exams.

The march dubbed the #OpenUpLegalEducation and #RedMonday is being organised by the National Association of Law Students (NALS) who are demanding that the President and Chief Justice issue a set of reforms to enable students to sit for their Bar examinations without any hindrances.

Nii Senpe Adokwei Cudjoe, a Leader for the Coalition for the Reform of Legal Education speaking to reporters said they are hopeful today’s protest which is expected to effect a change in legal education reforms.

“We believe that the next point of call is to hit the street and call on the presidency to intervene in this matter. Every law in this country based on Article (58) is supposed to be implemented by the President. We believe that the Attorney General will fully be minded to say that there will be change if there is enough advocacy,” he stressed.

Many students, however, believe the recent mass failure at the entrance exam was the latest attempt to limit the number of professional lawyers in the country.

Chief Justice Justice Sophia Akuffo, however, insists she will not heed to public pressure saying the current status quo is in service of producing quality lawyers.

She had earlier cautioned the General Legal Council to be wary of the rising numbers of students admitted into the Ghana School of Law.

Demonstrators seen converging






Demonstrators block road in front of High Court Complex





Some demonstrators seen with placards