President John Dramani Mahama, on Monday, gave assent to three major bills passed by the Parliament of Ghana.
These are the Legal Education Bill, the Value for Money Office Bill, and the Governance Advisory Council Act.
The Legal Education Act establishes a Council to regulate professional legal education and training in Ghana and to provide the curriculum and standards for legal education.
In addition, the Act introduces competition by ending the Ghana School of Law’s exclusive authority over professional legal education.
The Value for Money Office Act is intended to save the public purse. It addresses inflated contracts, abandoned projects, cost overruns and wasteful public expenditure.
The Governance Advisory Council Act will establish an independent body to strengthen accountability and combat corruption.
President Mahama, in a brief comment after signing the three bills into law, said the Legal Education Act will ensure the highest standards in legal education. This, he said, will also open the space for more opportunities for legal education in Ghana.
“This Act is one many aspiring lawyers have waited for”, the President said.
On the Governance Advisory Council Act, President Mahama said it is a fulfilment of a key promise. “It was among my promises to promote good governance and public trust,” he added.
Concluding his remarks, the President said the Value for Money Office Act will help promote accountability by reviewing contracts and other major government expenditures. Also, contracts will go to the Value for Money Office. All contracts above a certain value will also go to the Office. This ensures that Ghana receives value for every cedi spent.
Present in the President’s office for the signing were the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, Senior Presidential Advisor, Dr Valerie Sawyerr, Minister for Finance, Dr Ato Forson and the Attorney General, Dr Dominic Ayine. Others were the Advisor and Special Aide to the President, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Esq.; Legal Counsel to the President, Marietta Brew; and Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu (MP) and the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor.