Asantehene hands over land for construction of Ghana School of Law campus in Kumasi

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, situated behind the Ministries enclave, was formally handed over on Monday, July 28, 2025, representing a major milestone in decentralizing legal education in Ghana.

The proposal to allocate land for a law school in Kumasi, which dates back to 2003, will now be realized with the establishment of Ghana’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, scheduled for completion, will comprise 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 for the Asantehene, Nana Samgba Gyafla II, Paramount Chief of the Sampa Traditional Area, reiterated the Ashanti Region’s pledge to foster legal education as an instrument for national advancement.

Acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, welcomed the development as a transformative milestone. He emphasized the importance of proximity to courts in improving practical legal training for future lawyers, calling on faculty, the Bar, the Bench, and private and public partners to support the initiative.

“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.

Nana Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong, Director of the Ghana School of Law, described the initiative as long overdue.

He highlighted the challenges students faced in relocating to Accra for professional training, stating that until recently, becoming a lawyer without passing through Makola was inconceivable.

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 who are grounded in service, justice, and leadership.