The Ghana School of Law, Kumasi Campus has been inaugurated at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The Acting Provost of College of Arts and Social Sciences and Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Stephen Offei, in a welcome address, gave a brief history of the study of Law in Ghana from the 1970s'. He said that, the onset of the Law Faculty was faced with so many challenges especially with accommodation and academic facilities such as a Faculty library. He explained that, the National Accreditation Board (NAB) inspected the Faculty of Law in 2007. He acknowledged Her Ladyship Mrs. Justice Georgina Theodora Woode, Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana for her unflinching support in the establishment of the Ghana School of Law, Kumasi Campus.
The Chairman for the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor William Otoo Ellis in an address said that, the inauguration of the Ghana School of Law, Kumasi Campus, was an enviable milestone in the history of the University. He emphasised that, the need for legal education with relevant and significant basic democratic values was very important in the society. The Vice-Chancellor added that, when laws operate in a society, the fundamental human rights of the masses are secured. The Vice-Chancellor mentioned Justice V.C.R.A.C Crabbe, Late Justice B.K. Wiredu and Mr. Justice Kingsley Acquah as the pioneers who recommended the establishment of the Ghana School of Law, Kumasi Campus, though KNUST is the major stakeholder in instituting the Ghana School of Law Kumasi Campus. He acknowledged the contributions made by the Chancellor, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II; the General Legal Council; Former Vice-Chancellors, especially the late Prof. Kwesi Andam and Prof. K. K. Adarkwa, immediate past Vice-Chancellor; Rev. Professor E.H. Ofori Atta, the Foundation Dean and the various committees.
The Vice-Chancellor assured all stakeholders that the Ghana Law School, Kumasi Campus, will be under the supervision of the Ghana School of Law. He also said that, the standards of the School will not be compromised and the University would continue to use theory and practical lessons, moot courts, field trips and vacation training programmes to enrich the training of lawyers.
In the remarks made by the Director of Legal Education and Ghana School of Law, Mr. George Sarpong he stated that, admission into the Law School will be guided by the requirements of the General Legal Council. He commended the Bench and Bar especially Lawyer Paapa Dadson for their contributions towards the establishment of the Kumasi Campus. He pledged the full support of the General Legal Council for the Ghana School of Law, Kumasi Campus.
Representing the Honourable Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu; the Deputy Attorney General, Martin Oduro disclosed that, the institution of the Ghana School of Law, Kumasi Campus, signified another expansion of the reign of the rule of Law in Ghana. He advised the law students to be representatives of the truth and to seek to administer truth. He stated that, establishing the Ghana School of Law, Kumasi Campus, is destined to produce lawyers who would stand tall in the administration of justice.
The Special Guest of Honour, the Chancellor and Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, stated clearly that, legal education needs to be supported in order to attract more students. He declared that, the University had invested greatly in establishing the Ghana School of Law, Kumasi Campus. The Chancellor pleaded with the General Legal Council to reintroduce GCL course for qualified law students to pursue the Law profession at the Ghana School of Law.
In the inaugural address by the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, President of the General Legal Council and Chairperson of the Board of Legal Education, Her Ladyship Mrs. Justice Georgina Theodora Woode, she acknowledged the Vice-Chancellor, Professor W. O. Ellis as well as the immediate past Vice-Chancellor Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa for their support. She disclosed that, the General Legal Council received a lot of opposition before the establishment of the Ghana School of Law, Kumasi Campus.
Her Ladyship revealed that, the Ghana School of Law, Accra Campus could not cope with the congestion of lawyers and therefore there was the need to build another campus. She said, "Recently, 450 LLB qualified lawyers applied to the Ghana School of Law, Accra Campus but only 200 lawyers could be admitted". Due to the problems associated with facilities and other factors, plans were made underway to put up another branch of Ghana School of Law. Her Ladyship assured the gathering that, professional legal training will be available to the many who have applied to be professional lawyers. She guaranteed that, new Law faculty auditoriums will be built in the private and public universities, to cater for the increasing number of law students.
She commended the Honourable Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu for the approval of the establishment of Kumasi Campus of the Ghana School of Law. She also acknowledged the support of the Chancellor and Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II; the Foundation Dean, Professor Ofori Amankwaah and the Acting Provost of College of Art and Social Sciences and Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Stephen Offei and the students who offered to study at the Kumasi Campus of the Ghana School of Law. She advised the law students to demonstrate hardwork and integrity in the Law profession. She again stated that, the Ghana School of Law, being the centre for professional law training, should operate on sound and independent financial footing by charging appropriate and realistic fees.
The Chief Justice in her closing remarks entreated the entire Bench and Bar in Kumasi to demonstrate hard work, integrity and loyalty in their work and to effectively release the courts and chambers to serve as professional training grounds for law students.
Other dignitaries present at the ceremony were, KMA Chief Executive, Mr. Samuel Sarpong; Mr. Appiah Nkyi, representing the Registrar; Director of the Ghana School of Law; Registrar of the Ghana School of Law; Former Chairman of the University Council; Akyeampemhene, Oheneba Adusei Poku and Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Kofi Opoku Manu.
From the General Legal Council those present were; Justice William Atuguba, Justice S. A. Brobbey, Professor Ofori Amankwaah and Lawyer Premo. Two senior lawyers, Lawyer Appiah Minkah and Lawyer S.K. Boafo were also present.
