UBIDS Achieves Legal Accreditation Milestone Amidst Student Omission Dispute and National Medical Education Reforms

The University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) has reached a significant milestone in legal education after receiving accreditation from the General Legal Council to run a one-year Pre-Bar Professional Law Course. This development makes UBIDS one of only 19 authorized institutions in Ghana to offer the program. The announcement coincided with the university's Second Congregation Ceremony, where 70 LLB students graduated, bringing the institution's total law alumni to 133. The ceremony, attended by Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, celebrated the school's high success rate, with nearly 70% of its initial graduates passing the Ghana School of Law entrance examinations despite existing resource constraints.

However, the celebrations have been tempered by a brewing legal standoff involving 33 law students who were omitted from the official graduation list. Represented by Dr. B. E. Norgah, the affected students have issued a one-week ultimatum to the university management to issue their certificates and transcripts, threatening legal action if the matter is not resolved. While the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Emmanuel Kanchebe Derible, reportedly admitted the omission was an "administrative blunder," the students have rejected suggestions of a supplementary list, citing the urgent need for their documentation to meet Pre-Bar enrollment deadlines. Management has proposed an emergency Academic Board meeting to address the discrepancy and restore the students' eligibility.

In a broader context of professional training reforms, the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced plans to decentralize medical education across Ghana. Speaking at Wisconsin International University College, the Minister indicated that the government intends to mirror recent changes in legal education to expand access to medical training. This policy shift aims to break down barriers for qualified applicants and increase the number of trained doctors to improve healthcare delivery nationwide. This vision for modernization is shared by Professor Philip Ebow Bondzi-Simpson, Vice-Chancellor of Methodist University Ghana, who recently urged the Judiciary to embrace digital reforms and technology to enhance transparency and efficiency within the legal system.

As these educational reforms and institutional milestones unfold, the pipeline from professional training to public service remains a critical focus. The Ministry of Health has officially announced the recruitment of the 36th batch of Medical Officers and Dentists who have completed their mandatory housemanship. The application process is set to open on July 8, 2026, through a transparent online portal, with vacancies available across the Ghana Health Service and the Christian Health Association of Ghana. Together, these developments highlight a period of both significant expansion and administrative challenges within Ghana’s professional education and recruitment sectors.