Justice Nana Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong
The Acting Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has revoked the appointment of Justice Nana Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong, a Justice of the Court of Appeal as the Director of Legal Education and head of the Ghana School of Law.
The termination takes effect from August 31, 2025, meaning the Court of Appeal judge will not complete his four-year term as the head of Ghana’s foremost law school.
The Acting Chief Justice, in a letter, pointed out that Justice Oppong must return to the Court of Appeal where he will focus solely on administration of justice as a judge.
Justice Oppong was appointed as the Director of Legal Education in December 2022, having practiced as a private lawyer for several years.
He was appointed to the Court of Appeal on July 31, 2024, and was seconded by the Judiciary to the General Legal Council to continue serving as the Director of Legal Education.
But a letter emanating from the Office of the Chief Justice and copied to Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Judicial Secretary and Secretary to the General Legal Council, the Attorney General, and Members of the General Legal Council, informed Justice Oppong of the decision to recall his appointment as Director of Legal Education.
According to the letter, the Judiciary now requires his full services, hence the decision to recall him from the position.
The letter thanked him for the “significant” contributions he made to professional legal education during his time as Director of Legal Education.
Gratitude
In a notice to students on August 12, 2025, Justice Oppong noted he had hoped to complete his full term or at least see through the current academic year and the forthcoming Call to the Bar ceremony, somewhere in October this year. “Sadly, that was not to be,” he wrote.
Nonetheless, he has expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve in the position and glorified God “for His love, guidance, and protection over the past three years.”
“To our Part II students, it is my earnest prayer that every one of you will be called to the Bar this coming October. To our Part I students, may the Almighty God grant you success and guide you through to Part II,” he noted.
Justice Oppong also urged the student body to give even greater respect, cooperation, and support to his successor, the management and staff of the school, to ensure the continued growth and prestige of the institution.
Atuguba Takes Over
Meanwhile, Justice Oppong has been directed to hand over to former Dean of the University of Ghana School of Law, Prof. Raymond Atuguba, who has been appointed as Acting Director of Legal Education at the General Legal Council.
He is expected to act in that capacity until a team is put in place for a permanent Director of Legal Education.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak