Speaker criticised for ‘mafia and autocratic’ ruling on entrance exams Bill

The Speaker of Parliament’s ruling on the controversial Legal Profession (Professional and Post-Call Law Course) Regulations, 2018 on Friday has come under severe criticism.

Many had called on parliament to reject the bill which makes it a prerequisite for prospective students to sit an entrance examination before gaining admission to the Ghana School of Law.

The bill laid before the house by the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Subsidiary Legislation Committees was put to a voice vote after a heated debate.

The Speaker Prof. Mike Oquaye who put the question for the approval or rejection of the Legislative Instrument ruled that the ayes had won.

He made that decision despite the chaotic protest by some legislators, mainly from the opposition, who stood on their feet insisting on other means of voting instead of the voice vote, but were ignored.

Ken Donkor, President of Concerned Law Students Association who have been campaigning against the passage of the LI was dissatisfied with the approval.

“I don’t have trust in the system, the system is failing us,” he protested on TV3’s News@10 on Friday.

“It is just so sad, the decision taken by the Speaker, how the debate in parliament went we were optimistic the LI was going to be annulled,” he said.

Further expressing his frustration, Ken Donkor decried the action of the Speaker of Parliament, saying he was “so autocratic, so mafia; it is a sad day for Ghana, looking at the tangent it is going I fear for my country”.

He insisted that capacity should not be the basis to deny someone the legal right to education, contrary to the position held by others.

He wondered why Rwandan that came out of war, not long ago, has expanded its system and extended admission to foreigners including Ghanaians when Ghana is marking time.

According to Ken Donkor, he will resort to court for redress on the decision taken by Parliament.