Features
Tackling the brouhaha over non-admission of 499 law school candidates
After Ghana became independence in 1957, the development of Legal Education in the country was discussed leading to the enactment of the Legal Practitioner Act 1958 which gave birth to the General Legal Council (GLC).
The Council was charged with the responsibility of organising legal education in the country and the first African Chief Justice of Ghana, Sir Kobina Arku Korsah, appointed Professor J H Lang, as the first Director of Legal Education and the establishment of courses on instruction. Since then, there has been other satellite campuses at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi which is aimed at opening a second School of Law in the Ashanti Region and another campus at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) near Legon in Accra. The Kumasi campus was officially inaugurated in November 2010 by Her Ladyship Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, former Chief Justice of Ghana.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE GHANA SCHOOL OF LAW
The Ghana School of Law located in the heart of the Central Business District (CBD) of Accra, precisely Makola, is the only institution that provides training for law graduates in the Barrister of Law programme. The professional law course is designed for law graduates who have obtained an LLB degree and have passed the entrance examination. On completion of this course, the graduate is qualified to practise law in Ghana. It is instructive to know that persons who have studied law outside the shores of Ghana and have first degree in law, would have to pass through the Ghana School of Law before they can practise the profession in Ghana.That is the requirement by the General Legal Council in Ghana.
ENTRY REQUIREMENT AND THE VISION OF THE SCHOOL
For one to qualify for admission to the Ghana School of Law for the professional law course, he or she must be successful in the entrance examination. There is no way a person can gain an admission to the law school without writing and passing an examination. Applicants who are admitted to undertake the professional law course are enrolled as Barristers at Law and Solicitors of Supreme Court upon their successful completion of the course.
The vision of the Ghana School of Law is to become a Centre of Excellence in Africa and the world at large for professional legal training and research. This laudable vision has by far and large been accomplished since its establishment by Ghana’s first president Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah in 1958. No wonder, nationals from other neighbouring African countries as well as other advanced foreign countries continue to knock on our doors to seek admission to the school to train as professional lawyers of high repute. The quality of training given to applicants is so high that upon completion of their course, they can work in any parts of the world.
FIRST OF ITS KIND IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
It is interesting to state that the Ghana School of Law is the first of its kind and the leading law school in Sub-Saharan Africa and serves students from other Commonwealth countries in the sub-region. That is why the authorities continue to attach great importance to the quality of applicants who are seeking admission to the school.
CONTROVERSY OVER THE NON ADMISSION OF APPLICANTS
However, in recent times, the school has come under attack for certain acts that tend to undermine its credibility and placing it in a bad light. The school, we are told is putting impediments in the way of applicants who have written the entrance examination and have genuinely passed. If what we are hearing is the gospel truth, then the school must sit up and regularise its operations and put things in order, otherwise it will dent its high reputation in the international circles and earn a bad name.
Recent news circulating all over, especially in the social media indicated that some aggrieved candidates numbering about 499 who claimed to have passed the 2021 entrance examination to the Ghana School of Law, had been unjustifiably denied admission to the school for reasons they are not familiar with. According to the aggrieved candidates, there was no debate that the admission pass mark into the school was 50 per cent which has been the case since the introduction of the entrance exams as a criterion for admission to the GSL sometime in 2012. Additionally, there was equally no debate that the 50 per cent requirement that a candidate had obtained was a culmilative raw score of 50 per cent from the two sections of the paper.
AGGRIEVED CANDIDATES PETITION PRESIDENT
A lead convener of the group, Mr. Tonny Baah, told a news conference in Accra recently that they had petitioned the Office of the President on October 15, 2021 to use his Executive Power to come to their aid in their quest for justice and to vindicate their fundamental human rights as enshrined in Chapter 5 of the 1992 Constitution. He expressed the confident that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who for all intent and purposes, had proven to be a renowned human rights lawyer and freedom fighter, would rise up to the occasion and do justice to their legitimate grievances.
“We appeal to the President who also happens to be a member in permanent good standing at the bar, to cause his official representative at the General Legal Council, the Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, who is clothed with powers under the Legal Professional Act, 1960 (Act 32), to order the General Legal Council and for that matter the Ghana School of Law, to comply with their own rules of engagement by admitting the remaining 499 candidates who passed the entrance examination,” he said.
HANDLING THE CONTROVERSY WITH DISPATCH
The current brouhaha that has characterised the process of admission to the Ghana School of Law need to be handled in a more professional manner in order not to create disaffection within the law profession. We believe that the President of the Republic of Ghana who himself is a member of the legal luminaries in this country will intervene immediately and cause an investigation into this thorny issue to resolve the impasse. This is an issue which should not be allowed to drag whatsoever.
OUR LEGAL SYSTEM IS AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD
It is a fact that our legal system is rated among the best in the world due to the vigorous and rigorous training we offer to prospecting lawyers in this country. As a result of the meticulous training of our lawyers, many of them are serving in other capacities in a number of foreign countries across the globe. Others are holding responsible positions in this country and are doing very well in areas they find themselves. The training of lawyers in this country demands a lot of investment both financially and physically. It is on the basis of this investment that the case of these aggrieved applicants should be re-examined so that they can have the opportunity to complete their course successfully and serve their motherland faithfully and dutifully.
Our dear country, Ghana, needs more lawyers to help prosecute its development agenda and, therefore, there is no need to stifle the chances of potential aspirants.
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By Charles Neequaye
Features
The Prophet part 2
“I can see in the spirit, that some of you have been trading for years without seeing any meaningful profits, some young women have been disappointed by men who have either abandoned them and left for foreign lands and forgotten about them, or stopped sending money for the upkeep of their wives and children.
I can see young men who are desperate for visas to travel abroad but have either been duped by visa contractors or refused at the embassies. From tomorrow, I assure you, the visas will be given.
Young women, I have news for you. You will receive telephone calls, and you will hear very good news. Handsome young men with money in their pockets will come and marry you, and take care of you. Traders, you will get big business and big profits from today. From today, you will see that I am a true prophet who has come to deliver you.”
Shouts of “Amen,” “thank you Prophet” and “I receive it” greeted his sermon. After a final prayer, he asked the congregation to come early the following day, and bring others, because there would be many testimonies.
There would also be “special anointing” for great miracles. Although he did not ask for an offering, most of the people came and dropped notes, and coins at the “pulpit.” When they left, Antobam counted the money.
“GH¢900!” he almost shouted, ‘and I did not even ask for an offering. This is fantabulous!’ Going to the Nana Kofi Broni shrine, he told himself, was a very wise move.
He started making plans……He had to choose a few assistants who would carry out his orders……. He had to hire some chairs as soon as possible……He had to find a suitable piece of land and, if possible, build his own church……. He had to start looking for a nice car, befitting the status of a popular preacher …… And, most importantly, he had to select two, three or four nice, young women to take care of his needs, apart from the servants who would cook, wash, iron and do other errands for him.
Abruptly, he told himself, this hungry, scruffy Kukurantumi boy was being transformed into a man of power and money, with some of the most beautiful women in town at his beck and call. Wow!
After a shower and supper, he shut the door to the very small room that served as his bedroom and dropped on the bed. Almost immediately, the shrill sounds, like whispers, began.
This time he did not express any fears. He realised to his great surprise that even though the sounds were not in the form of any language, he could understand them.
Tomorrow there will be testimonies……they will give money……. some rich people are being prepared …….they will bring big money ………. we will give them what they want, and they will bring money ……. big money …….big, big money……the women will also come, a number of them. ‘
He went to sleep smiling and whispering to himself, ‘big, big money, and women!’
He woke up at 5 and took a shower. After a breakfast of tea and several slices of bread he set off. On reaching the venue he saw to his great surprise that the place was full.
Very full, and quite a number of people rushed to embrace him and give him the wonderful news. The excited people narrated the testimonies about big sales, telephone calls from relatives directing them to go to Western Union, and impotent husbands who had miraculously rediscovered their magic powers.
He was truly glad that Nana Kofi Broni’s magic had already started working, but most of his attention was focused on the ladies in the congregation. He noticed to his great delight that some of them were really nice. I must start making my selection, he told himself. Today!
“Give a mighty clap offering to the great, mighty one for his wonders among us!” he started, and the response was very big.
“I said yesterday that you were going to see signs and wonders, and I am very happy that my word has been fulfilled. Even though we have taken allowed one hour for testimonies, many more of you would like to testify.
Tomorrow, I promise you that there will be ample time. I will only preach a short sermon. The rest of the time will be taken up by consultations, after which I will give directions on what to do to ensure that you defeat your enemies, secure your marriage and, most importantly, continue increasing your profits in your business.” His sermon was interspersed with ecstatic shouts of “Amen,” “it is true,” “God bless you” and “I receive it.”
His final word was emphatic; “Big miracles are coming your way. Keep attending church, and don’t forget to give thanks to God.”
By Ekow de Heer
Features
Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship launches project to transform young lives
The Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) Ghana has launched the Senior High Schools and Colleges Project (SCP) aimed at empowering and transforming the lives of young people.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Mike Ocquaye, the former Speaker of Parliament, emphasised the need to catch them young and train them as the current times were challenging.
He lauded the project, calling on all to support it, saying “In fact, it’s very important to catch them young, train them, lead them, guide them, and mentor them because the times are indeed rough,” Prof. Ocquaye said.
Mr Ekow Egyir Dadson, the Director, Schools and Colleges Directorate, stated that since its inception in 2018, the SCP had reached over 70 educational institutions with countless testimonies of transformation.
“We began with the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) Legon, and now in 2024, we have visited 74 schools and impacted the lives of over 100,000 students, some of whom were personally mentored and now have graduated from the universities.”
He explained that the SCP, a vision by FGBMFI Ghana, was a bold outreach programme designed to call young people to Christ, train and equip them for the future.
He cited testimony-sharing, mentorship, career guidance, entrepreneurship and counseling as some of the unique approaches to be used in reaching out to the targeted students.
Mr Emmanuel Baba Mahama, the National President of the FGBMFI Ghana, launched the SCP Manual, which would help the FGBMFI Zonal Family Chapters across Ghana in order to adopt schools and colleges within their catchment areas.
The Schools and Colleges project is making a great impact; we have had first-hand testimonies from school heads, teachers, and students (mentees) about the SCP. This project has come to stay, Mr Baba Mahama assured.
He, therefore, called for more volunteers and partners to help the SCP shape the next generation of leaders and citizens.
Findings by the FGBMFI revealed that Ghana’s senior high schools, colleges, and university students face growing challenges like addictions, indiscipline, poor academic performance, pornography, homosexuality, broken homes, and a lack of godly guidance.
That had been a concern to many parents and society, “but the FGBMFI believes there is hope to rescue and restore these young students,” Mr Mahama said. –GNA
