Reports reaching MetroTVOnline.com indicate that Ghana has trained approximately 11,400 lawyers since the country’s first legal practitioners were called to the Bar in 1877. Of this number, about 8,600 lawyers are currently active, reflecting a significant growth in the country’s legal human resource base over the decades.
The figure, which excludes the 824 new lawyers called to the Bar over the weekend, underscores the steady expansion of the legal profession and Ghana’s commitment to building a robust justice system anchored on professionalism, ethics, and competence.
Statistical records show that from Ghana’s colonial-era legal beginnings to the post-independence establishment of the Ghana School of Law in 1958, enrolment and training have steadily risen, particularly in the past three decades.
Between 1958 and 1990, the average annual call to the Bar was under 100. However, from 2000 onwards, that number has grown exponentially, with recent years recording annual admissions of between 600 and 900 new lawyers. This upward trajectory reflects both the growing demand for legal expertise and the broadening access to legal education.
Currently, Ghana’s ratio of active lawyers to population remains modest—approximately one lawyer per 4,000 citizens—indicating further room for growth in ensuring equitable access to legal services across all regions.
The inclusion of 824 new lawyers called to the Bar this year is expected to push Ghana’s active professional base beyond 9,400 practitioners, representing one of the largest year-on-year increases in the country’s legal history.
Legal analysts note that while Ghana’s total number of trained lawyers may appear small compared to the population size, the recent expansion of legal training opportunities—coupled with ongoing digital transformation within the judiciary—signals a positive trajectory toward greater efficiency, inclusivity, and access to justice.
As Ghana continues to modernize its legal and judicial systems, the steady rise in the number of qualified lawyers marks a vital step in strengthening the rule of law, supporting governance reforms, and deepening democratic accountability.
