UG HOLDS MAIDEN MOOT COURT COMPETITION FOR EIGHT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

By Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

The University of Ghana (UG) Legon, School of Law began its Moot Court Competition for Senior High Schools (SHS) in Accra, with a call on students to know their rights.

The two day competition, at the University’s main campus in Legon, which was on the theme, “Promoting Human Right among SHS students” was aimed at giving students the opportunity to develop their advocacy and deepen their knowledge on the application of human right laws on campus.

It is also to engage the mooting skills of SHS students throughout the country over constitutional issues that affect the enjoyment of their fundamental human rights on campus.

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The eight schools participating in the competition are Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC), Achimota School, Odorgonno Secondary School, Accra High School, Accra Academy, West Africa SHS, St Mary’s Girls School and Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Dr, Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, Senior Lecturer of the faculty of Law, University of Ghana in an interview with the Ghanaian Times said the competition was to assess the confidence level of students and their knowledge of the law interms of court room language skills and etiquette.

He said the competition provided rare opportunity for students to hone their skills in preparation towards becoming the next generation of human rights scholars and advocates adding that “it would alert them on how they will react to certain violation of their right.”

Dr, Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua noted that a particular topic is chosen around which a hypothetical case is framed for students to prepare their memorial and make oral presentations before a panel of judges adding that “students must know the law and their rights and exercise it judiciously on campus.”

He indicated that a research conducted by his outfit revealed that most SHS students have little knowledge of the constitution and the law, which was why they found it necessary to organise such a competition to enable students gain full knowledge of the constitution and the law at large.

He said plans were underway to extend the coverage of the competition from next year and making it an annual event.