The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice of the Republic of Ghana Godfred Yeboah Dame says, the Legislative House of Parliament do not have the powers to control admission processes into the Ghana School of Law, as they have earlier directed the Legal Council to admit 499 candidates in a resolution passed by tge House.
In a letter written to the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Attorney-General said, the power to regulate admission of students to pursue courses of instruction leading to qualification as lawyers and to hold examinations which may include preliminary, intermediate and final examinations has been vested in the General Legal Council.
He believes that, the constitutional provisions regarding the subject matter is the capacity of the Executive not the Legislature, through the Minister responsible for the General Legal Council, i.e. the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, to direct and advise the Council on major matters of national importance.
In the letter, Godfred Yeboah Dame said;
“Respectfully, l am aware of a resolution passed by Parliament at its sitting on Friday, 29 October, 2021 in these terms:”
“…The General Legal Council is hereby directed to proceed and admit all the Students who passed in accordance with the advertised rules of the examinations..”
“…The Attomey-General is the leader of the bar in Ghana and he must see to it that the directive that 499 students who scored 50 marks are admitted is complied with. We do not want to get to contempt of Parliament issues…”
“Whilst recognising the general legislative powers of Parliament in Ghana, except as have been circumscribed by the Constitution, I am constrained to advise that Parliament is devoid of a power through the use of Parliamentary
resolutions, to control the process of admission into the Ghana School ot Law.”
He added that, the mode of exercising legislative power enshrined in article 106 of the Constitution does not admit of resolutions.
The letter copied to The Chairman of General Legal Council and the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Parliament of Ghana said, In accordance with section 13(1)(e) and (f) of the Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32), the power to regulate admission of students to pursue courses of instruction leading to qualification as lawyers and to hold examinations which may include preliminary, intermediate and final examinations has been vested in the General Legal Council.
It is correct that section 1(5) of Act 32 stipulates thus:
“The Council shall in the performance of their functions comply with any general
directions given by the Minister.”
“In my respectful opinion, this provision underscores the capacity of the Executive not the Legislature, through the Minister responsible for the General Legal Council, i.e. the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, to direct and advise the Council on major matters of national importance.”
“In this regard, it is pertinent to indicate that by a letter dated 18th October, 2021 received at my office on 21st October, 2021, His Excellency the President forwarded the contents of a petition by the “499 candidates” to me for my
comments in order to enable him respond. Another petition dated 20th October, 2021 by the National Association of Law Students was also delivered to the President.”
“Upon delivery of my comments on the matters raised in both petitions and following further consultations with my good self, by a letter dated 26th October, 2021 (three clear days before the resolution of Parliament), received at my office on 27th October, 2021, the President directed me to, pursuant to section 1(5) of Act 32, …make the necessary intervention to the General Legal Council, on behalf of the 499 students, to address the issue.”
“Within the constraints of the law, I am following up on the directive of the President to make the necessary interventions on behalf of the “499 students”.
“Be that as it may, it is imperative to correct a few erroneous impressions contained in the impugned Parliamentary resolution of 29th October, 2021.”
1. The notice in the Daily Graphic of 14th May, 2021 inviting applications from suitably qualified Ghanaians for admission into the Ghana School of Law did not state a pass mark of fifty percent (50%) or any at all as a basis for admission. The notice stated that applicants may be granted
admission if they have passed the entrance examination conducted by
the GLC.
The notice also did not state the manner in which a pass mark set by the GLC would be determined.
It is clear therefore, that, a contention that the “originally announced or “advertised” pass mark was 50%, is erroneous and insupportable.
2. In so far as any matter bordering on a “pass mark is concerned, the
notice in the Daily Graphic stated as follows:
“E. ADMISSION PROCEDURE
5. The admission process is as follows:
i) The General Legal Council determines the number of candidates to be admitted to the Professional Law Course for the academic year.
(ii) Applicants may be granted admission if they have passed the written examinations organized by the General Legal Council for the 2021/2022 Academic Year, on payment of the required fee and
submission of the application form and all supporting documents required online.
(iii) Eligible candidates who attain the minimum threshold mark set by
the General Legal Council will be offered admission for the 2021/2022/ Academic Year to pursue the Professional Law Course.
3. The GLC’s notice was hinged on section 13(1)(e) and (f) of the Legal
Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32) which empower the GLC to regulate
admission of students to pursue courses of instruction leading to
qualification as lawyers and to hold examinations which may include
preliminary, intermediate and final examinations.
I hope the contents hereof clarify the limits of the powers of Parliament in the matter of regulation of admission into the Ghana School of Law.
Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration.
SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh
