The Director of the Ghana School of Law (GSL), Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong, has called for the school's exemption from paying 25% of its internally generated funds (IGF) to the government.
During the induction ceremony for new students of the professional law course, Barima Oppong expressed disappointment in the government's insufficient return on the funds contributed by the school for infrastructure expansion.
The GSL Director emphasized the unique burden placed on the institution, highlighting that it has been the only one paying part of its IGF to the government since its establishment in 1958. Barima Oppong noted that last year alone, the school paid over GH¢12 million to the government, and until recently, the government was taking 34% of its IGF.
In his plea, Barima Oppong urged the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, to act on the school's request for the waiver of the 25% payment.
He emphasized the potential for the school to invest the exempted funds in infrastructure expansion to accommodate more students and meet the legal needs of the public.
Barima Oppong expressed confidence that the waiver would facilitate significant construction works in the school, enhancing its capacity to provide quality legal education.
During the induction ceremony, Justice A. Asumah Oppong, a High Court Justice, led 994 LLB students in taking their oaths after passing the entrance exams.
The theme of the event was “The importance of ethics in the advancement of legal education and practice.”
Speaker Bagbin urged the students to uphold ethical principles, emphasizing the importance of selflessness, dignity, integrity, honesty, truthfulness, probity, and accountability in the legal profession.
He encouraged aspiring lawyers to leave a legacy of ethical conduct, inspire trust, and serve as role models.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, represented by the Solicitor-General, Mrs Helen Akpene Awo Ziwu, highlighted the increasing complexity of ethical decision-making in the legal profession due to technological advancements.
The President of the Ghana Bar Association, Yaw Acheampong Boafo, also advised students to maintain discipline beyond classroom examinations.