Samuel Victor Addo ranked among the top 10 candidates nationwide in the 2024 Ghana School of Law entrance examination. The 67-year-old, who retired from a career in corporate America, revealed the achievement during an interview on Joy FM’s Personality Profile with Lexis Bill on Thursday, October 22.
Addo said more than 4,000 people sat the Makola entrance exam that year. “When the results came, I was in the top 10 out of the 4,000 in the whole of Ghana who took the Makola entrance exam,” he told the show. He described himself as “definitely in the top tier” and said now that his journey was complete, he could share the story.
After earning his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, Addo had to pass the entrance exam to qualify for professional legal training at the Ghana School of Law. The result reflected his serious approach to the challenge. “So that tells you that I was a studious person and I didn’t come to play,” he said.
Addo credited his success to discipline, preparation, and a clear strategy for tackling legal examinations. He explained that excelling in the test required understanding the questions, identifying the key legal principles, and answering directly rather than writing lengthy essays that failed to address core issues.
“When you take a test, you can write 10 pages and still not get to the gravamen of what they are looking for,” he said. “The trick is to, for this question, say, ‘What are the five, six, or seven things?’ and just go straight into that.”
He described spending late nights studying past questions, recognising recurring themes, and reviewing marking schemes as part of his preparation. “There’s a whole lot of strategy that comes into play when you’re reading law that would ensure your success,” he added.
Addo returned to Ghana to pursue law after retiring from a career in the United States, which included work with Delta Air Lines. He has spoken before about the unusual experience of studying alongside much younger classmates and said it was refreshing rather than a disadvantage.
Despite the demands of legal education, he remained focused on completing the programme. His experience illustrates the level of dedication required to succeed in professional legal training, regardless of age or background.
On the October 22 interview, Addo reflected on the challenges and rewards of his path. The achievement of ranking in the top 10 nationwide at 67 came after years of determination and hard work.
According to Joy Online.
