Prof. Raymond Atuguba Appointed Acting Director of Legal Education; Justice Oppong Reassigned

Former Dean of the University of Ghana School of Law, Professor Raymond Atuguba, has been named Acting Director of Legal Education at the General Legal Council (GLC), effective September 1.

His appointment follows the reassignment of Justice B.Y.K. Oppong, a Court of Appeal judge, who has been recalled from the role to focus exclusively on his judicial duties.

In a letter announcing the changes, Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie praised Justice Oppong for his “significant contribution” to the advancement of professional legal training during his tenure.

Prof. Atuguba will oversee the administration of legal education at the GLC while the search for a substantive Director of Legal Education continues.

Known for his strong views on law reform, Prof. Atuguba has repeatedly argued that many of Ghana’s laws are outdated, making it challenging to enforce ethical standards—particularly in the corporate and banking sectors.

“Our laws are not in tune with the times; how do you determine ethics with such a legal framework?” he asked during a February 2024 forum. He noted that Ghana still retains about 10 English laws passed between 1539 and 1863, alongside statutes such as the Bills of Exchange Act, 1961 (Act 55), which he says require modernisation to reflect contemporary realities.

His February 2024 lecture was delivered under the theme: “Ethics, Financial Conduct, and the Political Economy in Ghana and Other Emerging Markets.”