The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has become the first institution in Ghana to train and graduate doctoral candidates in law, marking a major milestone in the country’s legal education landscape.
The inaugural cohort features three scholars whose research targets longstanding structural challenges within Ghana’s tax system, insurance sector and renewable energy governance — areas experts say are central to national development.
Dr. (Mrs.) Delali Adzo Gawu completed her PhD by examining decades of confusion surrounding the interpretation and application of Ghana’s income tax law, offering clearer frameworks aimed at improving taxpayer compliance and administrative efficiency.
Dr. Edmond Nelson Amasah’s doctoral work confronts persistent delays and denials in third-party motor insurance claims, a problem that has deepened public mistrust and strained consumer protection efforts.
The third graduate, Dr. Richard Obeng Mensah, focused on legal and regulatory shortfalls limiting the growth of renewable energy in Ghana, proposing reforms to strengthen national transition strategies and investment confidence.
All three scholars described demanding research processes shaped by scarce industry data, the challenge of translating complex legal concepts during community interviews and the strain of balancing academic work with careers and family life.
KNUST officials say the achievement signals a new era in advanced legal scholarship.