First set of lawyers to pass out from the Ghana School of Law in 1963 [Photo Credit: gslaw.edu.gh]
In the late 1950s, the pursuit of legal education in Ghana was initiated by the country's first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
To ensure that legal education was accessible to all, including those who were economically disadvantaged, Dr. Nkrumah established the Ghana School of Law, which remains a prestigious institution for aspiring lawyers in Ghana.
On March 7, 1959, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah unveiled a plaque for the school to herald its establishment. However, during the course, 97 students abandoned their quest midway, leaving only nine lawyers to eventually pass out.
During his speech at the first Call to the Bar, where nine lawyers trained and passed out in 1963, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah emphasised the importance of expanding access to legal training so that even poor Ghanaians could pursue careers as lawyers.
He also highlighted that the establishment of the school aimed to democratise legal education and empower more Ghanaians to participate in the country's judicial system.
Since the establishment of the Ghana School of Law in 1963, the country has seen significant progress in the legal profession, with a growing number of legal professionals contributing to Ghana's justice system.
From just nine lawyers in 1963, Ghana can now boast of approximately 600 to 1,000 new lawyers being called to the Bar annually, particularly after 2019.
As of October 11, 2024, around 700 lawyers were called to the Bar in Ghana at a ceremony held at the Accra International Conference Center.
Meanwhile, Dr. Nkrumah's speech at the first Call to the Bar for the nine lawyers has recently surfaced online after being shared by @GhLawTrends on X, formerly known as Twitter.
See Dr. Nkrumah's speech from 1963 below:
Nkrumah founded the Ghana School of Law to expand access to legal education so that even poor Ghanaians could afford to become lawyers.
— GhLawTrends (@GhLawTrends) October 11, 2024
In 1963, 9 lawyers trained in Ghana were called to the Bar. Today, over 700 lawyers were called.
Attached is Nkrumah's speech at the call. pic.twitter.com/RfLCGhyhu0
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