The Cost of the Wig and Gown
By Owusu Emmanuella Akoto By the time the wig came off around 4 PM on Friday, Accra looked less like a ceremony ground and more like a street festival. Gowns were being folded over arms, wigs propped up properly and phones were out for selfies. The occasion was the 63rd Call to the Bar, organised […]
On Friday, October 9, 2026, the 63rd Call to the Bar took place in Accra, marking the formal admission of 1,568 newly qualified lawyers to the Ghana Bar. The event, organized by the General Legal Council, attracted hundreds of relatives and friends to watch the ceremony. Notable among the graduates were four Members of Parliament, including two Ministers of State, and three media personalities.
As the 4 PM ceremony concluded, the graduates donned their gowns and wigs, posing for selfies in a more festive atmosphere than the usual ceremony ground.
The occasion honored top-performing students, with Akosua Achiaa Sarpong from KNUST receiving the John Mensah Sarbah Award for Best All-Round Student, along with Best Student in Civil Procedure. Other notable recipients included graduates from the University of Ghana. The ceremony commenced with a speech from Judicial Secretary Musah Ahmed, emphasizing the demanding nature of the legal profession and the need for diligence, sacrifice, and family support.
However, behind the celebratory photographs lies a long, arduous, and costly path. Aspiring lawyers face years of university study, professional legal education, and rigorous examinations. Costs associated with tuition, accommodation, transportation, and textbooks can quickly accumulate, placing a heavier burden on students from poorer backgrounds.
Many rely on scholarships, savings, or support from family and friends to afford the necessary expenses. The personal cost extends beyond financial strain, as students endure pressure to perform, fear of failure, and setbacks. This collective sacrifice signifies the commitment of the graduates and their support networks.
The financial burden of legal education in Ghana is significant, and graduates must now navigate a competitive job market to recover their investments. Legal education worldwide is costly, and many may have been deterred by the financial challenges they faced. Ensuring equal opportunities for talented individuals is crucial to prevent the Ghanaian legal profession from losing capable lawyers before they can take their place in the Bar.
Addressing this issue requires support from scholarships, financial aid, mentorship programs, and job opportunities provided by legal institutions, policymakers, schools, and the private sector.
Today, the new lawyers have earned their well-deserved celebration, with their families standing beside them, supporting their newfound positions in the legal profession.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
