Partnerships

Developing and maintaining partnerships with local and international bodies is a statutory function of the Council, not an optional activity. Every relationship below is one the Act creates or requires.

Institutions the Council works with

What each relationship actually consists of, rather than a statement that it exists.

Joint regulator

Ghana Tertiary Education Commission

The Council sets accreditation standards for legal education in collaboration with GTEC, and the two regulators run a single joint accreditation pathway rather than two parallel ones.

How the two bodies work together

  • Standards for the accreditation of law programmes are set jointly.
  • One application pack, issued by a joint secretariat.
  • One site inspection serves both regulators.
  • GTEC incorporates the Council's legal education opinion into the final accreditation outcome.
  • GTEC nominates one member of the Board.

Act 1170 · s.3, s.4

Statutory nomination

The Judiciary of Ghana

The Chief Justice nominates to both the Board and the National Bar Examination Committee, so that the bench has a direct voice in what is taught and how it is examined.

How the two bodies work together

  • Three members of the Board are representatives of the Judiciary, one from the lower bench.
  • Three members of the National Bar Examination Committee are judges with an academic background.
  • The Chief Justice appoints the chairperson of that Committee.
  • The Board chairperson is a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, or a person qualified to be one.

Act 1170 · s.4, s.65

Statutory nomination

Ghana Bar Association

The Bar nominates practising members to the Board and to the National Bar Examination Committee, including at least one of not more than seven years' standing so that recent entrants to the profession are represented.

How the two bodies work together

  • Three members of the Board are representatives of the Bar.
  • At least one of them is of not more than seven years' standing.
  • Three members of the National Bar Examination Committee are members of the Bar in good standing with an academic background.

Act 1170 · s.4, s.65

Academic nomination

Conference of Law Deans

The Conference nominates serving law teachers to the Board and members of academia to the National Bar Examination Committee, connecting the Council to the faculties it accredits.

How the two bodies work together

  • Three members of the Board are persons who teach law in accredited institutions.
  • Three members of the National Bar Examination Committee are members of academia.
  • Curriculum review draws on the accredited faculties through this channel.

Act 1170 · s.4, s.65

Statutory nomination

Office of the Attorney-General

The Attorney-General is represented on the Board at not below the rank of Chief State Attorney, bringing the State's legal service into the governance of legal education.

How the two bodies work together

  • One member of the Board represents the Attorney-General.
  • The representative is not below the rank of Chief State Attorney.

Act 1170 · s.4

Policy relationship

Ministry responsible for Education

The Council advises the Minister on national standards and norms for legal education, and the Ministry is represented on the Board at Director level. Regulations under the Act are made by the Minister.

How the two bodies work together

  • One member of the Board represents the Ministry, at Director level.
  • The Council advises the Minister on national standards and norms.
  • The Minister may make Regulations under the Act.

Act 1170 · s.3, s.4, s.88

International cooperation

International legal education bodies

Developing and maintaining partnerships with local and international bodies, and representing the Council in national, regional and international fora, are statutory functions of the Council and duties of the Director-General.

How the two bodies work together

  • Collaboration with legal education institutions and professional bodies abroad, through the Ghana School of Law.
  • Evaluation of courses of study for the recognition of legal qualifications obtained outside Ghana.
  • Reciprocal arrangements supporting enrolment under section 74(2).

Act 1170 · s.3

The statutory basis

Two of the Council's nine functions under section 3 are about working with others.

  • Develop and maintain partnerships with local and international bodies.
  • Represent the Council in national, regional, and international fora.
  • Set standards for accreditation with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission.
  • Evaluate courses of study for the recognition of legal qualifications.

Act 1170 · s.3

Partnerships are managed by the Corporate Communications and Partnerships directorate, through its Strategic Partnerships and International Relations units.

About that directorate