“66 Years of Monopoly Is Too Long” — Rtd. Justice Delali Douse Defends Legal Education Reform

Retired Court of Appeals judge, Justice Delali Douse, has strongly defended Ghana’s new legal education reforms, insisting that the changes are necessary to modernize the system without compromising standards.

Speaking on the evolution of legal education in Ghana via a Zoom meeting on Kessben TV’s PUNCH, Justice Douse said the country’s long-standing monopoly in legal training had outlived its relevance.
“Sixty-six years of monopoly is a long time dominance; it would have retired if it were a civil servant,” he remarked, stressing that reform was inevitable in a rapidly changing educational environment.

According to him, the reforms are not intended to sacrifice quality for quantity, but rather to improve accessibility while maintaining high professional standards.
“The standard always has to be raised,” he stated, adding that the legal profession extends beyond courtroom litigation and requires responsible public service.

Justice Douse traced the history of legal education in Ghana, explaining that before independence, many believed studying law abroad was the only legitimate path to becoming a lawyer. However, after independence, the British government reportedly informed Ghana that it could no longer continue admitting large numbers of Ghanaian law students, compelling the country to establish its own legal training system.

He recalled the establishment of the famous Makola Law School under Kwame Nkrumah in 1959, noting that the initiative initially faced ridicule and public skepticism.
“People mocked the Makola Law School and questioned why anyone who wanted to become a lawyer should study at Makola, as though they would be rubbing shoulders with market women,” he recounted.

Despite the criticism, he said the institution later produced some of Ghana’s finest legal minds and judicial leaders, including former Chief Justices such as Justices Acquah, Theodora Wood, Akufo, Anim, Esaaba Torkornoo, and Baffoe-Bonnie.
Justice Douse further dismissed fears that the new reforms would dilute academic quality, arguing that resistance to change is often driven by uncertainty.
“There is nothing to fear about the new changes in legal education. It will help solve mobility and accommodation challenges,” he emphasized.

He also welcomed the introduction of an appeal system that allows students to challenge examination results when dissatisfied, describing it as a step toward fairness and transparency in legal education.