Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has defended the decision to deny Elorm Ababio, also known as Ama Governor, a call to the Bar, despite her successful completion of all necessary examinations.
The General Legal Council had received a petition against Ms. Ababio’s conduct, leading them to suspend her Call to the Bar temporarily.
During an event in Accra on July 31, which subsequently became viral on Twitter, the Chief Justice expressed surprise at the public outcry over the GLC’s decision. She questioned whether it was appropriate for someone with questionable behavior to be admitted into the legal profession.
She stated, “I was taken aback by the uproar surrounding the call to the bar of certain individuals. Is this the kind of behavior we consider acceptable in the legal sector? It’s intriguing. To become part of the legal profession, one’s conduct must not be obscene or offensive. Your activities on social media and any ex parte communication with a judge hold immense importance.”
The Chief Justice emphasized the significance of maintaining proper conduct and ethical standards within the legal sector, and how such behavior is a crucial factor in determining eligibility for admission to the Bar.Ama GovernorAma Governor
Pro-Ama Governor petition
Some Ghanaians on social media launched an online petition targeted at the General Legal Council (GLC).
The move is in protest of the suspension of the call to the Ghana Bar of Ama Governor.
The lawyer-in-waiting, who is also a YouTuber, was denied the Car call despite her successful completion of the professional law program, that is passing her exams and scaling the interview session as well.
The petition dubbed ‘Justice for Ama Governor’ has been published to gather signatures.
Ama Governor reportedly received a letter dated November 3, from the Secretary to the General Legal Council, Justice Cynthia Pamela A. Addo JA, informing her of the suspension because a complaint filed by a “concerned citizen”.
The GLC indicated that the complaint by this “concerned citizen” alleged that Ama Governor is seen in widely circulated videos engaging in what it describes as “conduct unbecoming of an applicant to be called to the Bar”.
The Complainant, the GLC Secretary indicated, also submitted a flash drive [pen drive] which contains selected video files and hyperlinks of Ama Governor to relevant website publications.
Ama Governor’s conduct is said to violate Regulation 21 (c) of the Legal Profession (Professional and Post-call Law Course) Regulations, 2018 L.I. 2355.
The said Regulation states: “A student of the school qualifies to be called to the Bar, if that student has […] (c) satisfied the Council that the student is of good character.”
