The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has criticised the immediate past President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Yaw Acheampong Boafo, describing his public comments on the new legal education reforms as disappointing.

In a strongly worded statement shared on social media on October 11, 2026, Dafeamekpor accused the former GBA president of criticising the Legal Education Act, 2026 (Act 1170), without first reading the legislation and its transitional provisions.

He also challenged the former GBA president to identify any provision of the 1992 Constitution or Act 1170 that prohibits the introduction of the new Pre-Bar programme.

“Snr, as the immediate past President of the Ghana Bar Association, you disappoint me with these public comments conveyed in this video about the new reforms Act 1170 has introduced because your voice goes far,” Dafeamekpor, who is also the Majority Chief Whip of Parliament, stated.

The lawmaker argued that the former GBA president's position was particularly concerning because of the influence his office and public standing could have on discussions about legal education in Ghana.

According to Dafeamekpor, Yaw Boafo had failed to consider Section 93 of Act 1170, which contains transitional provisions outlining arrangements for implementing the new legal education framework.

He also referred to a statement issued by Professor Raymond Atugubah on June 12, 2026, which he said comprehensively addressed arrangements for implementing the reforms, including the introduction of the Pre-Bar programme.

He accused the former GBA president of appearing on national television to condemn the legislation and its associated programmes without adequately examining the law.

“Yet, you appear on national TV to berate and bastardise a law that you haven’t read and its consequential programmes that you don’t believe in,” he said.

The South Dayi MP further argued that the legal profession should not be treated as the preserve of a select group of influential individuals whose views must be accepted without question.

He said debates about the new legal education reforms should be guided by the provisions of the law and evidence rather than the status of those expressing opinions on the matter.

“I think it must be made clear to you today that the legal profession in Ghana is not the sole proprietorship of some of you who think that you are an emperor; therefore, whatever you say must be obeyed,” Dafeamekpor stated.

What Yaw Boafo said:

The former President of the Ghana Bar Association criticised the implementation of the Legal Education Act, 2026 (Act 1170), arguing that the introduction of the Pre-Bar programme and the accreditation of institutions under the new framework were unlawful.

He said his concerns were not necessarily about the need for legal education reforms but the manner in which the process had been undertaken, particularly the alleged sidelining of people within the existing legal system.

He argued that although a law had been passed to create a statutory body to oversee the reforms, the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General had assumed the powers of a body that had not yet been established.

He further alleged that the Pre-Bar programme had been introduced and institutions accredited unlawfully, warning that training prospective lawyers outside the proper legal framework could undermine respect for the rule of law.

See the post and the video below:

1. Snr Boafo as the immediate past President of the Ghana Bar Association, you disappoint me with these public comments conveyed in this video about the new reforms Act 1170 has introduced because your voice goes far.

2. Like some others, you have also failed to read the new law, Legal Education Act, Act 1170, 2026 and its Transitional provisions captured in Section 93 of the law that gives an overviews all matters transitional to the implementation of Act 1170.

3. Apparently, you have also refused to read the comprehensive Statement issued by Prof. Raymond Atugubah on 12th June 2026 regarding ALL arrangements being made in pursuance of Act 1170 to ensure an effective of the new legal education reforms including the introduction of the Pre-Bar programme.

4. Yet, you appear on a national TV to berate and bastardize a law that you haven’t read and it’s consequential programmes that you don’t believe in.

5. I think it must be made clear to you today, that the legal profession in Ghana is not the sole proprietorship of some of you who think that you an emperor therefore what whatever you say must be obeyed.

6. The rule of the game is evidence so show me one provision in the Constitution or in Act 1170 that the introduction of the new Pre-Bar law course forbids and therefore makes it unlawful as you forcefully told the world? Just show me.

7. Integri procedamus, never you forget that.

— Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Esq. MP. (@etsedafeamekpor) October 11, 2026