Ghana’s Growing Army Of Lawyers: But Who Will Build The Nation?

On October 9, 2026, Ghana welcomed 1,568 newly qualified lawyers at the 63rd Call to the Bar ceremony. While the graduates' achievements should be applauded, questions remain about whether the country is equipping its legal professionals to contribute meaningfully to Ghana's development. A December 2025 Afrobarometer survey revealed low public trust in Ghana's courts, widespread perceptions of judicial corruption, and a belief that powerful individuals influence judicial decisions.

These attitudes suggest that legal education alone may not suffice to strengthen Ghana's justice system or foster economic transformation.

Former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew cautioned that merely increasing the number of lawyers does not guarantee greater judicial confidence. He emphasized the importance of pairing legal expertise with investment in other critical fields such as engineering, mathematics, physics, chemistry, technology, and productive enterprise. President Kwame Nkrumah recognized this connection when he prioritized scientific research, technical education, and industrialization during his leadership.

China's success in building its modern infrastructure, including highways, high-speed railways, and factories, serves as an instructive example. The nation linked education, scientific research, technical training, and industrial policy, cultivating technically skilled leaders who shaped its development. Ghana must similarly assess whether its priorities have shifted from emphasizing legal qualifications to addressing the broader human-capital development needed for national progress.

Ghana boasts distinguished technically trained leaders, including P. V. Obeng, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, and former Vice-President Joseph de Graft-Johnson, who have contributed to both engineering and political leadership. However, the demand for skilled professionals in various sectors, such as engineering, mathematics, physics, chemistry, technology, and agriculture, remains unmet. These experts are crucial for determining infrastructure priorities, overseeing construction, and ensuring the proper use of technical resources.

Singapore, South Korea, Germany, and the United States provide compelling models of nations that balanced legal and regulatory frameworks with robust scientific, technical, and industrial capabilities. Nigeria's Dangote Refinery exemplifies the potential for Africa to leverage its resources and technical expertise, yet the refinery's success depended on sourcing specialized knowledge from abroad, highlighting ongoing gaps in Africa's industrial capacity.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo deserves credit for expanding STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in Ghana, a commitment recently led by former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum. The establishment of seven STEM academies by late 2024 represents a positive step, yet these initiatives must be integrated with broader plans for human-capital development, industry, and a coherent national industrial strategy.

Training individuals in STEM fields without creating opportunities for them to apply their knowledge is counterproductive. A holistic approach is required: identifying necessary capabilities in various sectors, training professionals to meet those needs, and creating industries that can utilize their skills.