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Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has announced the end of long-standing perceptions of inequality within Ghana’s Call-to-the-Bar system.
According to him, the General Legal Council has abolished the perceived distinction between the “main core” and “mini core.”
Under the new arrangement, the former “mini core” will now be known as the March Call, while the traditional “main core” will be designated as the October Call.
He emphasised that both calls will carry the same professional and ceremonial significance.
“There shall be no difference in perceived status, no difference in professional recognition, and no difference in quality. The March Call will be conducted in the same spirit, with the same dignity, and under the same standards as the October Call,” he declared.
Delivering the keynote address at the induction of a new batch of students for the Ghana School of Law, Kumasi campus, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie also hinted at the possibility of holding call ceremonies in Kumasi to ease pressure on students who traditionally travel to Accra. He noted that seniority measured in mere hours or days should not determine professional standing.
He underscored that while reforms aim to ensure fairness, standards will not be compromised, reminding students that the journey into the legal profession demands more than academic brilliance.
“The path before you will demand more than intelligence. It will demand courage; courage to defend principle when it is unpopular, courage to uphold ethics when compromise is convenient, and courage to remain faithful to the law when personal interest suggests otherwise,” he said.
In his address, Acting Director of Legal Education and Acting Director of the Ghana School of Law, Raymond Atuguba, outlined a renewed academic vision anchored on three pillars: curriculum integrity, disciplined students, and committed lecturers.
He announced the revision and digitisation of course manuals to reflect current laws and cases, with updated electronic versions to be made accessible to students. He added that firm academic timelines have been set to ensure adequate preparation time before examinations.
Mock examinations will also be introduced in April as a diagnostic tool to help students adapt to the assessment structure.
The Ashanti Regional President of the Ghana Bar Association, Kwame Owusu Sekyere, described the large number of inductees as a welcome development for the profession.
He cautioned students that the journey ahead would require sustained dedication and commitment, stressing that the legal profession is highly regulated by ethics and that breaches could lead to sanctions by the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council.
Source: 3news
