The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has officially handed over a 1.12-acre parcel of land in Adum, Kumasi, to facilitate the construction of a permanent Ghana School of Law campus in the Ashanti Region.
The land, located behind the Ministries enclave, was handed over on Monday, July 28, 2025, marking a significant step toward decentralizing legal education in Ghana.
Although discussions on allocating land for a law school in Kumasi date back to 2003, this development will see the establishment of the country’s second full-fledged law campus outside Accra.
The Kumasi campus of the Ghana School of Law, currently housed at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), was established in 2010 through the efforts of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The new facility, when completed, will feature modern lecture halls, a moot court, staff offices, a clinic, hostels, a banking facility, law firms, legal shops, and other essential amenities to support comprehensive legal training.
Speaking on behalf of the Asantehene, Nana Samgba Gyafla II, Paramount Chief of the Sampa Traditional Area, reaffirmed the Ashanti Region’s commitment to advancing legal education as a tool for national development.
Acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, lauded the development as a transformational milestone.
He emphasized the importance of proximity to the courts in enhancing practical legal training for future lawyers and called on faculty, the Bar, the Bench, and private and public partners to support the project.
“This campus will provide the next generation of lawyers with greater opportunities for hands-on learning, keeping them close to the courts where justice is administered,” he said.
Director of the Ghana School of Law, Nana Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong, described the initiative as long overdue.
He recalled the difficulty students faced in relocating to Accra for professional training, stating that until recently, becoming a lawyer without passing through Makola was unimaginable.
He added that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the Kumasi campus, and the new facility will further democratize access to legal education in Ghana.
“Approval was secured in 2010 to begin the Kumasi campus, and this year marks the 15th anniversary of that important achievement,” he said, expressing optimism that the new facility will further decentralize legal education and promote equity in access across Ghana.
The new campus is expected to become a center of excellence, nurturing legal professionals grounded in service, justice, and leadership.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Isaac Justice Bediako
