A Critical Analysis of the 2025 Call to the Bar in Ghana: Ceremony, Controversy, and the Role of Barristers in a Changing Society.
by Khalid Azure Yakubu
Introduction
The calling of a new cohort of barristers to the Bar in Ghana each year is a pivotal event that both celebrates professional achievement and prompts introspection about the direction of legal practice in the country. The 2025 Call to the Bar, which saw a record 824 new lawyers officially inducted into the profession, has ignited widespread public debate not only about the inclusivity and diversity of the legal system but also about the relevance and role of barristers in a rapidly industrializing Ghana. These debates have been marked by a flurry of commentary-ranging from admiration for the achievements of inductees, to sharp criticism of what some see as the extravagance and hype surrounding the ceremony, to a deeper questioning of whether the legal profession is adapting fast enough to serve Ghana’s new economic aspirations. In this report, I offer a comprehensive analysis of these debates, drawing on a wide range of media coverage, stakeholder perspectives, academic analysis, and my own observations and values as Khalid Azure Yakubu.
The 2025 Cohort: Numbers, Backgrounds, and Diversity
The most immediate lens through which to view the 2025 Call to the Bar is the historic scale and diversity of the cohort itself. On October 10, 2025, the Accra International Conference Centre hosted a vibrant, packed ceremony as 824 new lawyers swore their professional oaths and received their certificates. In 2022, over 1,040 lawyers marked the largest single cohort in Ghanaian legal history, a figure notable not only for its size, but also for its composition.
Among the new lawyers, there was a pronounced presence of journalists and media practitioners-Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson (Graphic Online), Serwaa Amihere (EIB Network), Joseph Ackah-Blay (Media General), Sixtus Don-Ullo (3News), and Yvonne Asare-Offei (GBC) were all publicly recognized. Their transition from journalism to law illustrates a growing intersection between legal practice and public accountability, as well as the perceived value of legal training to other fields. Importantly, this year’s cohort included six persons with disabilities, further signaling evolving inclusivity in the originally elite and exclusive legal profession. The group also featured international representation-notably Paul Chen, a Chinese-born entrepreneur who grew up in Ghana and now runs a business in Kumasi. Chen’s perspective highlights the perceived practical value of legal knowledge for business, especially in a regulatory environment that is often complex and unpredictable in Ghana.
This celebration of diversity was accentuated by remarks from dignitaries such as Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Supreme Court Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine, Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, Director of Legal Education Prof. Raymond Atuguba, and GBA President Efua Ghartey. These leaders commended the inductees for their perseverance in a rigorous legal training system and their symbolic representation of a changing Ghana.
The Ceremony: Grandeur, Media Coverage, and Rising Criticism
The grandeur of the Call to the Bar ceremony itself has been a subject of considerable media attention and growing critical scrutiny. As with previous years, the 2025 induction featured elaborate rituals, ceremonial oaths, high-profile speeches, carefully choreographed processions, and media fanfare. The presence of family members, friends, and colleagues created an atmosphere of both personal intimacy and public celebration.
Notably, this year’s event prompted a significant amount of critical commentary. Some observers, especially on social media platforms, questioned whether the ceremony had become “overhyped” or “overly extravagant” given Ghana’s pressing socio-economic challenges. Humorous but pointed rants, such as those by social media users @dkbghana, mocked both the elaborate dress code-“black and white, black and white like Adidas boys”-and the disproportionate public attention given to law grads compared to science or engineering students. Again @BongoIdeas preferred the work of @Buzstopboys to the profession. While some played up these criticisms for comedic effect, the undertones reflected a broader sentiment: that the profession, and its rituals, may be out of step with the changing societal needs.
Such criticisms were echoed in editorial columns and opinion pieces, with some journalists suggesting that the growing size and theatricality of the event exposed the legal profession to the risk of trivialization. Senior legal practitioners, such as former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, have previously voiced similar concerns, likening the annual call to the Bar to an “assembly line” that risks prioritizing quantity over quality, and ceremony over substance. Yet others, using humor and historical reflection, have reminded us that the Call to the Bar has always been replete with both pomp and irony. In a widely circulated opinion piece, Kwesi Yankah pointed to the term “Bar” itself-inviting readers to ponder whether the day should be cause for celebration or caution, in light of the historical place where Ghana’s legal education is headquartered: Makola, Accra’s famous market. Yankah’s piece, while light-hearted, ultimately returns to the theme of humility and service, cautioning against pomposity and championing both the formally trained lawyer and the “pocket lawyers” of Ghana’s rural communities who, despite the absence of formal credentials, provide essential access to justice.
Official Responses: Ghana Bar Association and Judicial Leadership.
Amid public debate, the Ghana Bar Association (GBA)-the main professional body for lawyers-has sought to defend both the integrity of the profession and the value of its ceremonies. GBA leadership emphasizes the twin importance of tradition and reform. At the 2025 ceremony and the subsequent annual conference, Acting Chief Justice Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie underscored that the call to bar is not just a private privilege or a means of pecuniary gain, but a “sacred call to service-a duty to uphold the rule of law, to protect the vulnerable, and to defend the constitutional ideals of justice and equality”. He admonished new lawyers to serve as catalysts for innovation, reform, and the restoration of public trust in justice, while also identifying unmet legal needs in their communities.
In response to allegations of bias or exclusivity-for example, controversy over the invitation of dignitaries or perceived snubbing of political leaders-the GBA has defended the transparency and inclusiveness of its processes, clarifying that invitations to events such as the annual conference are not political but are based on tradition and protocol. The need for legal education reform has also been acknowledged, with Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine proposing a new bill to introduce a more practical, skills-based curriculum and a one-year law practice course following graduation, with renewed emphasis on civil/criminal procedure, advocacy, and ethics.
The GBA’s historical record supports its assertion that it is committed to both democratic values and constructive self-examination. Since its formal constitution in 1992, the Bar Association has been a resolute defender of civil rights, a forum for debate on national policy, and an advocate for legal reform-roles that have given it both prestige and exposure to periodic criticism.
Societal Debate: The Value and Relevance of Barristers in Industrializing Ghana.
The most important and challenging of the controversies raised in recent weeks is whether the legal profession-specifically, the role of the barristers is adapting quickly and effectively enough to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s policy aspiration of industrialization. This debate can be broken down into several dimensions: the practical relevance of legal skills, the alignment of legal education with the demands of industrial policymaking, and the comparison of law to other professions that are driving social and economic change.
Legal Skills: The Theory-Practice Gap.
A recurrent theme is the complaint that Ghana’s legal education continues to emphasize rote memorization of statutes over practical, face-to-face skills of negotiation, advocacy, and problem-solving. As Her Honour Judge Sedinam Awo Kwadam has argued, the current system rewards recall over reasoning, leading to the production of lawyers who are technically proficient in passing exams but insufficiently prepared for the realities of legal practice in modern commercial and regulatory contexts. Critics see this as a major reason for the perceived lack of practical impact of barristers, especially in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and technology, where complex contracts, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance are the norm.
In response, some legal educators and reformers have called for the adoption of “open-statute” exams, case-based learning, and greater incorporation of advocacy, negotiation, and legal research skills. Practical training, such as the required pupillage period (apprenticeship), is designed to provide a bridge, but is itself subject to variation in quality and outcome. The challenge is to ensure legal practitioners can effectively support industrial projects-not just in drafting documents, but in providing guidance, risk assessment, and innovative legal solutions.
The Legal Profession and Industrial Policy.
Historically, the legal profession in Ghana has played a central role in shaping the country’s social, political, and economic fabric. From the days of John Mensah Sarbah and the early colonial Bar, to the establishment of the Ghana School of Law at Makola, lawyers have functioned both as public advocates and as architects of policy, sometimes venturing directly into politics, administration, or civil society leadership.
However, the 21st-century context is different. Ghana’s current phase of industrialization is driven by policies such as import substitution, private sector-led development, value addition in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and the establishment of special economic/industrial zones. These economic sectors require not just technocratic expertise, but also legal skills: in the negotiation of investment agreements, formulation of property and employment law, drafting and enforcement of international trade contracts, and the design of policies and incentives for the private sector.
Well-known Ghanaian legal practitioners and law firms have played crucial roles in advising multinational corporations, state enterprises, and industrial clusters in areas such as Tema, Kumasi, Takoradi, and more. Moreover, the oncoming effect of continental-scale policies such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will require legal expertise in regulatory harmonization, dispute settlement, and the negotiation of cross-border investment and trade relationships.
Yet, industrialists and policymakers sometimes argue that the legal profession is still perceived as a “gatekeeping” or “reactive” force-focused on regulation, compliance, and litigation-rather than a “creative” partner in innovation and problem-solving. There is a growing call for lawyers and barristers to be more embedded in industrial environments, to develop sector-specific expertise (e.g., construction law, manufacturing, environmental regulation), and to offer proactive advice that supports, rather than complicates entrepreneurial endeavor.
Stakeholder Perspectives: Business, Academia, and Civil Society.
Business Leaders: Many Ghanaian business leaders express mixed views about the contribution of barristers to industrial projects. While acknowledging the necessity of legal expertise for contract negotiation, regulatory compliance, and dispute avoidance, some lament the “risk aversion” or over-cautiousness that can slow down decision-making. There is appreciation for lawyers who can facilitate cross-sector dialogue, navigate government bureaucracy, and negotiate public-private partnerships, but exasperation with lawyers who focus exclusively on process rather than solutions.
As one case study, Paul Chen-a newly qualified lawyer who is also a business owner-has trumpeted the usefulness of legal training in enhancing his company’s competitive advantage. Chen, and others like him, serve as examples of how legal and commercial training can be mutually reinforcing.
Academia: Legal scholars argue for a realignment of curricula towards the real-life needs of industrial and commercial clients. Key areas cited are intellectual property (to foster innovation in local manufacturing), corporate governance (to improve transparency and attract investment), and labor law (to ensure protection and flexibility as industrial enterprises expand). The call is for new collaborative models between law faculties, business schools, and polytechnic institutes, to foster joint research, practical training, and industry immersion.
Civil Society: For civil society and advocacy groups, barristers are seen as critical voices in defending equity, rights, and access to justice in the tumultuous terrain of industrial change. They emphasize the role of legal professionals in environmental protection, land rights, labor fairness, and the negotiation of community benefits in industrial development. The inclusion of persons with disabilities, women, and people from diverse backgrounds in the cohort of newly called barristers is a welcome development, creating new champions for social equity amid rapid economic expansion.
Comparative Discussion: Barristers and Other Professions
The debate about the usefulness of barristers cannot be separated from the wider conversation about professional priorities for national development. In humorous (and sometimes more serious) media debates, legal graduates are pitted against science, engineering, and technology graduates as to who is most relevant to Ghana’s current needs. Reference is often made to the country’s urgent need for STEM education and the importance of “doers” rather than “talkers” for solving concrete industrial problems.
Nevertheless, the comparison can be misleading. Industrialization is a multidisciplinary venture that requires both technical and legal expertise. Ghana’s experience of the past-where lack of legal capacity contributed to failed contracts, privatization missteps, or disputes over land, labor, and investment-shows that excluding lawyers from industrial policy formulation has serious costs. As acknowledged even by critics, the challenge is not to minimize legal participation but to reform its focus towards practical, proactive, and developmentally aligned ends.
Legal Professionals and the Governmental/Policy Framework
Both government policy documents and expert analyses recognize the need for legal capacity in designing and implementing industrial strategies. The Ghanaian government’s recent industrial policies-whether through the National Industrial Policy, Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy, or Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda-consistently emphasize the need for legal frameworks that foster innovation, investment, fair labor practices, and environmental stewardship.
Key legal and regulatory reforms include:
The Labor Act, which provides protection and structure for employment relationships, collective bargaining, and workplace safety, as well as recent efforts to modernize provisions for contemporary workplaces (remote work, contract labor, etc.).
Construction, procurement, and infrastructural development laws, which create the framework for public and private sector partnership, project implementation, and stewardship of public resources.
Dispute resolution systems-including alternative dispute resolution, mediation, and arbitration mechanisms designed to resolve commercial conflicts efficiently and inexpensively.
Policy for legal education reform, introducing new courses, practical training, and a national debate about the methods best suited to prepare legal professionals for the fast-changing industrial economy.
Lawyers and barristers are present at every stage of this policymaking and implementation process, though there is widespread recognition, even from within the legal community, that more must be done to bridge the gap between academic or theoretical training and the demands of industrial policy in practice.
Case Studies: Barristers and Major Industrial Projects
In practical terms, Ghanaian legal professionals have been crucial players in landmark industrial and commercial projects. Leading law firms and barristers have structured cross-border contracts for the oil and gas sector, negotiated public-private partnerships for infrastructure (such as roads, housing, and utilities), and resolved high-stakes disputes in the mining, construction, and manufacturing arenas. Their role in negotiating with multilateral development banks, drafting foreign direct investment agreements, and formulating standards for environmental and labor compliance cannot be dismissed.
At the same time, the rush to privatization and industrial expansion has not been without setbacks. The post-independence effort to establish state-owned industries under Nkrumah’s leadership was remarkable in scale but sometimes fell victim to insufficient governance, weak legal oversight, and lack of policy continuity across political regimes. The subsequent emphasis on privatization, often critiqued for lack of transparency and oversight by legal professionals, underlines the need for active, critical, and principled barristers to safeguard public and national interests.
Recent participation of barristers in Ghana’s drive to implement the AfCFTA-both as dispute settlers and as architects of regulation-shows that the need for legal capacity is as high as ever, especially as Ghana integrates into wider regional and continental economic systems.
Reforms, Innovations, and the Path Forward
Whether the legal profession rises to the immense challenge of national industrialization will depend on its willingness and capacity to reform itself in several key areas. The opportunities and innovations visible on the horizon include:
Reforming Legal Education: Moving away from rote-memorization toward problem-based and open-statute exams provides a way to measure and cultivate analytical and practical skills relevant to industrial and commercial law. This ensures new lawyers are equipped not just for courtrooms, but for boardrooms, construction projects, and regulatory agencies across the country.
Deepening Practical Training: Strengthening the quality and oversight of pupillage programs, encouraging placements in industry, government, and social enterprise feels critical.
Expanding Inclusion: Ensuring that women, persons with disabilities, and people from diverse backgrounds have genuine, meaningful access to legal education and practice enriches the pool of legal ideas and approaches available to industrialization efforts.
Building Specialized Practice Areas: Fostering expertise in sectors such as energy, construction, agriculture, trade, and technology will enable lawyers to serve as partners rather than mere regulators in the industrial process.
Policy and Advocacy Engagement: Encouraging lawyers to play active roles in shaping the country’s economic and industrial policy, whether through professional associations, academic partnerships, or civil society activism.
Personal Reflection: The Way Forward as I See It.
As Khalid Azure Yakubu, my perspective is shaped by a belief in the transformative potential of the legal profession when it is oriented towards practical, ethical, and inclusive public service. The grandeur and ritual of the Call to the Bar, while capable of inspiring pride and professional identity, should not distract us from the urgent necessity of aligning the legal profession with Ghana’s industrial and societal needs.
The criticisms of the 2025 ceremony-as overhyped or out of touch-are not simply attacks on the legal community; they are wake-up calls. They remind us that professional ceremonies must be matched by professional substance and that legal education and practice must be responsive to the realities of economic transformation. It is not enough to swell the ranks of barristers if their skills do not translate into practical benefit for industry, society, and the everyday Ghanaian citizen.
I see the role of barristers as evolving beyond the courtroom into the heart of Ghana’s most vital conversations: industrialization, social justice, technological change, environmental stewardship, and regional integration. As Ghana aspires to join the ranks of industrialized nations, the legal profession-if reformed and responsive-can be a critical facilitator of that progress. But this requires humility, openness to change, a focus on practical rather than performative relevance, and a commitment to broadening participation beyond old gatekeeping models.
Conclusion
The 2025 Call to the Bar in Ghana has been more than a ceremony; it has been a lightning rod for important questions about the legal profession in a changing society. The debate about extravagance, overhyping, and relevance is really a debate about whether the profession can evolve fast enough to meet the needs of an industrializing, inclusive, and innovative Ghana. The answer is not to diminish the importance of legal expertise, but to redirect its focus, reform its training, and renew its social contract with Ghanaian society. Barristers-even as traditions endure-must continue to reinvent themselves as advocates for Ghana’s future, not simply its past.
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