OPINION: Why Is Studying Law Now Only For Politicians? The Poor Cocoa Farmer's Brilliant Child Cannot Afford To Become A Lawyer

Berima Kantinka

9th October 2026 | Eye on Western North – Special Report

A viral poster from Eye on Western North has reignited a painful national conversation in the heart of Ghana's cocoa belt: Is legal education in Ghana now reserved for the rich and the politically connected?

The poster, which has flooded WhatsApp platforms in Sefwi Wiawso, Juaboso, Bodi and across the Western North Region asks a simple but powerful question:

“Why studying law has now become to be politicians always been called to the Bar, But the ordinary Poor Cocoa farmer cannot afford for his or her brilliant Son or Daughter to study the same law?”
Behind the question lies the harsh reality facing thousands of brilliant but poor Ghanaian youth.
The Cost of Becoming a Lawyer in 2026
To become a lawyer in Ghana today takes 5 to 6 years and a fortune.

LLB Degree: At the University of Ghana, regular LLB is GH¢2,814 per year, but fee-paying is GH¢6,757. For Post-First Degree Law (the route for many graduates), it is GH¢14,443 per year. In private universities like UPSA, Lancaster, GIMPA, it ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 per year.

Ghana School of Law: After LLB, you must go to Makola. Under the new Legal Education Act, 2026 (Act 1170), there is now a one-year Pre-Bar Course at GH¢14,943 plus GH¢550 application fee, and Part I of the Professional Course at GH¢22,415 for 6 subjects. This excludes accommodation in Accra, books, and entrance exam fees of GH¢2,070.

For a cocoa farmer in Sefwi Boako or Akaasu whose annual income after farm inputs is less than GH¢15,000, training one child to become a lawyer can cost over GH¢100,000 from Level 100 to Call to the Bar.
Politicians' Children vs Cocoa Farmers' Children
In the last Call to the Bar ceremony in Accra, a long list of Members of Parliament, Ministers, District Chief Executives and their children were seen among those called. While hard work cannot be discounted, critics argue politicians have the means to pay fees, fund the expensive repeated entrance exams, and even send their wards to Gambia or the UK where professional law costs $20,000 – $35,000 per year if they fail Makola entrance.
The brilliant son of a cocoa farmer in Western North who had 7As in WASSCE and First Class in Legon often gets stuck after LLB. Last year, out of 5,000 who wrote the Ghana School of Law entrance exam, only 1,441 passed. Many have been trying since 2017.
Government Intervention
President John Mahama acknowledged this inequality in the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), announcing that law students will now be included in the Student Loan Trust Fund and benefit from the No-Fees-Stress Policy.
The Ministry of Education says GH¢900 million has been provided to support 317,841 students including law students. Student loans have also been increased from GH¢1,500 to GH¢3,000.
But on the ground in Western North, farmers say access is still difficult, and the loan is not enough for Makola's costs.
What Should Be Done?
Educationists in Sefwi Wiawso are calling for:

Special scholarship quotas for children of cocoa farmers under COCOBOD and Ghana Education Trust Fund

Decentralization of the Ghana School of Law to other regions

Capping of law faculty fees and providing free Pre-Bar for brilliant but needy students

Law is meant to be the defender of the poor. But if the poor cannot become lawyers, who will defend them?
As one farmer put it, “We grow cocoa to build Ghana, but Ghana's law does not grow with our children.”
What do you think? Should legal education be made free for brilliant but needy students? Send your views to Eye on Western North.