ACCRA, Oct 10, 2025 — The General Legal Council of Ghana admitted 824 lawyers-in-waiting to the Bar on Friday, enrolling them as Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court in a ceremony at the Accra International Conference Centre. The event, described by the Ghana School of Law as a moment where “determination meets destiny,” highlights the growing influx of legal professionals amid ongoing debates about workforce balance in the country.
The cohort includes a diverse group, with journalists and media practitioners featuring prominently among the new inductees. Notable figures called to the Bar include broadcast journalist Serwaa Amihere of GHOne TV and EIB Network, court correspondent Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson of Graphic Online, legal affairs reporter Joseph Ackah-Blay of Media General, 3News’ Sixtus Don-Ullo, and Yvonne Asare-Offei of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. Amihere, who kept her studies private for five years, shared on social media about the “sleepless nights” and support that fueled her journey.
Among the inductees was 47-year-old Chinese national Paul Chen, an alumnus of T I Ahmadiyya Secondary School and holder of a law degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Chen credited his lecturers and judges for easing his path, calling it a “long journey.” Latifa Teiya Fuseini was named the overall best graduating student of the Ghana School of Law for 2025. The group also includes five individuals with special needs, such as four visually impaired and one physically challenged person, underscoring inclusivity in legal education.
Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie addressed the new lawyers, urging them to uphold integrity and resist “cutting corners” in their practice. “You are made for the solemn duty that lies ahead of you. Go and serve,” he said, emphasizing ethical service to Ghana’s justice system. The ceremony was attended by Supreme Court Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine, his deputy Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, Director of Legal Education Prof. Raymond Atuguba, and Ghana Bar Association President Efua Ghartey, who presented qualifying documents.
This call marks the 62nd such ceremony and reflects a surge in legal admissions. Data from the Ghana School of Law shows over 7,200 students called to the Bar from 2015 to 2024, a 42% increase from the prior decade. For 2025, the figure of 824 follows a peak of 1,097 in 2023 and 959 in 2024, bringing the total for the past six years to 5,194. The Legal Education Reform Bill, currently before Parliament, aims to decentralize training by allowing accredited universities to offer Bar courses under General Legal Council oversight.
The Legal Green Association congratulated the inductees, calling the milestone a “solemn and momentous achievement” after years of rigorous training. As Ghana’s legal profession expands, the new lawyers join a field critical to the nation’s democratic and economic framework, with calls for balanced professional development to address broader societal needs like engineering and sanitation.
