President John Dramani Mahama has signed into law two landmark pieces of legislation, the Legal Education Reform Bill and the Value for Money Office Bill, a major step toward strengthening governance, accountability, and institutional reforms in Ghana.
The signing ceremony, took place at the Presidency today, May 11, 2026.
The Legal Education Bill is expected to transform Ghana’s legal education system by paving the way for the accreditation of more law schools to offer professional legal training.
The new law aims to expand access to legal education and address long-standing capacity challenges within the sector, which have for years left hundreds of law graduates unable to gain admission to the Ghana School of Law.
By enabling private and public universities to run professional law programmes under accredited standards, the bill is anticipated to ease the bottleneck that has delayed the call to the Bar for many aspiring lawyers.
On the other hand, the newly enacted Value for Money Office Bill introduces stricter oversight mechanisms for public sector spending.
The legislation focuses on promoting transparency and ensuring greater accountability in the use of public funds.
The new office is expected to evaluate government projects, contracts, and procurement processes to ensure that taxpayer money delivers optimal value. This move aligns with the Mahama administration’s broader agenda to fight waste and corruption in public financial management.
In brief remarks after signing the bills, President Mahama described the two acts as critical to building a more efficient and accountable governance system.
He noted that the Legal Education Reform Bill would democratise access to legal training, while the Value for Money Office Bill would serve as a watchdog over public expenditure.
The President called on all stakeholders to support the effective implementation of the new laws.
Legal practitioners, civil society groups, and anti-corruption advocates have welcomed both bills, describing them as long-overdue reforms that will strengthen Ghana’s democratic and governance institutions.
Story by Linda Asare
Source:
opemsuo.com
