Gaborone, Botswana — March 19, 2026 The University of Botswana is set to host a high-profile public lecture on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at the University Library Auditorium, as the country continues to grapple with calls for the establishment of a constitutional court.

The lecture, titled “Re-Inventing the Wheel for an Effective Constitutional and Democratic Governance System – Some Lessons for Africa”, will be delivered by renowned legal scholar Professor Kwame Frimpong, whose career spans decades of teaching, research, and advocacy across Africa and beyond.

The Constitutional Court Debate

Botswana’s legal and political circles have long debated whether the nation should establish a dedicated constitutional court. Advocates argue that such a court would strengthen constitutionalism, safeguard democratic governance, and provide clarity on constitutional disputes. Critics, however, caution against duplicating existing judicial structures, suggesting that the Court of Appeal and High Court already provide sufficient oversight.

The upcoming lecture is expected to reignite this debate, offering comparative lessons from other African nations where constitutional courts have played pivotal roles in consolidating democracy and protecting fundamental rights.

About Professor Kwame Frimpong

Professor Kwame Frimpong is a graduate of the University of Ghana and Yale Law School in the United States. He is a Professor of Law and a qualified barrister in Ghana.

He initially taught at the University of Ghana from 1978 to 1984. Subsequently, he taught at the University of Botswana from 1984 to 2007. Professor Frimpong was a former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Botswana (1990-92). He was also the Secretary General of the Southern African Universities Social Science Conference (SAUSSC) (1996-1999).

He served as the United Nations Legal Adviser to the Commission Regarding Public Violence and Intimidation (popularly known as the Goldstone Commission) under the United Nations Mission to South Africa (UNOMSA), during South Africa’s transition to democratic rule (1992-1994). Professor Frimpong returned to Ghana in December 2007 and was the Dean, Graduate School of Governance, Leadership and Public Management at GIMPA (2008-2010). 

He later became the Founding Dean of GIMPA Law School (2010-2012). He subsequently became Professor of Law and Dean, School of Research and Graduate Studies at MountCrest University College (2013-2015). Professor Frimpong subsequently became the Founding Dean at the newly established Faculty of Law at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), from March 2015 to March 2020. Professor Frimpong is the founder of the Professor Kwame Frimpong Law Development Institute (KFLDI), which seeks, through research, training and seminars, to promote the Rule of Law, Transparency and Accountability and Ethical Behaviour within Ghana and the rest of Africa. 

Professor Frimpong’s research and publications are versatile and cover criminal law, administration of criminal justice, criminology, penology, prison reform, constitutional law and constitutionalism, human rights, democratic governance, accountability, and corruption. Professor Frimpong is a strong advocate for the rule of law, human rights, accountability, democratic rule and good governance in Africa; and, through his writings and presentations, both nationally and internationally, has been championing the fight against corruption, lawlessness and impunity on the African continent.