Recently called to the Bar after two previous denials, Ms. Ababio appeared before an Accra High Court this week on behalf of the activist group Democracy Hub and 34 other individuals.
In April 2024, Democracy Hub and 33 other applicants filed a motion to relist their human rights case against the Ghana Police Service, which had been struck out by the High Court (Human Rights Division) due to a lack of prosecution.
The plaintiffs sued the Ghana Police Service and the Attorney-General, alleging unlawful arrest, torture, and detention of protesters during the #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstration in September 2023.
The motion to relist followed an April 9, 2024, decision by Justice Barbara Tetteh-Charway, who struck out the case after both plaintiffs and respondents failed to appear.
Democracy Hub shared news of Ama Governor’s court representation on their X handle.
“We are happy to announce that Yesterday (June 19) Ms Elorm Ababio @Ama_governor appeared for Democracy Hub and 34 other protestors, who were arrested during the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest.
“This was her first oral advocacy since Ama was called to the Bar. Ama herself was at the protest, and gave an interview which was relied on to further deny her a call to the Bar for the second time
“We are happy that Ama did not forget her fellow protesters at #OccupyJulorbiHouse and came back to represent them. Shows the purity of her spirit!” their post read in part.
Elorm Ababio, popularly known as Ama Governor, has officially been admitted to the Bar in Accra after a prolonged dispute with the Ghana Legal Council.
The conflict stemmed from a letter received in 2022 regarding Ama Governor’s conduct as a law student. Despite meeting all requirements, she was initially denied admission to the Bar due to allegations of misconduct.
In a video posted on Starr FM’s social media platforms on May 31, 2024, Ama Governor was seen joyously ascending the podium, receiving her certificate from dignitaries, and returning to her seat.
The saga began in 2022 when Ama Governor faced accusations of behavior unbecoming of a Bar applicant. This decision sparked widespread public debate, with some supporting the General Legal Council’s actions while others questioned its rationale.
Ama Governor vehemently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that she had not been provided with specific instances of misconduct and felt unfairly treated.
In September 2023, a report at the 2022/2023 bar conference revealed that a committee had reviewed the complaint, allowing her to commence the application process for the October/November 2023 sessions.
However, in October 2023, she was once again denied admission to the Bar by the General Legal Council, citing ongoing concerns about her conduct. While she could reapply after October 20, 2023, her behavior would be closely monitored.
In 2024, a list shared by the GLC included Ama Governor among 182 candidates from the Ghana School of Law for the May 31, 2024, call to the Bar ceremony.
Elorm Ababio, popularly known as Ama Governor, has been officially called to the Bar in the 2024 Mini Call ceremony at the Accra International Conference Centre…#StarrFM#StarrNewspic.twitter.com/5ZulOVvi1c
TheGeneral Legal Council (GLC) has rejected the application of YouTuber Elorm Ababio, popularly known as Ama Governor, to be called to the Bar for the second time. The GLC cited her conduct in public as the reason for denying her the opportunity to become a lawyer.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some netizens expressing their support for Ama Governor and others criticising her for violating the rules and ethics of the legal profession.
One Twitter user, giveawayhub (@ritly_), posted a tweet saying that Ama Governorshould know better and adhere to the codes and ethics of the profession. The user also said that Ama Governor should have kept quiet about her being part of the LGBTQ community, which is not accepted by the constitution.
“AMA Governor should know there are rules to every game. Every profession has codes and ethics. If she can’t adhere to these codes and ethics, then she should stop writing these applications. And she should’ve kept quiet about she being part of LGBTQ. She should’ve known better,” giveawayhub tweeted.
The tweet received some comments from other users who agreed or disagreed with giveawayhub’s views.
Nii Moe (@Nii_Moe_) commented that “Ama Governor will be denied a million times if she appeals a million times, implying that she has no chance of becoming a lawyer.”
Richard Amoatey (@Amoateybi) wrote, “it seems that as long as one does not make their views and deeds public, they are good, suggesting that Ama Governor is being discriminated against for expressing her opinions and identity.”
giveawayhub replied to Richard Amoatey’s comment by saying that Ama Governor is going to defend the constitution, which does not accept LGBTQ, implying that she is contradicting herself and her profession.
The tweet and the comments have generated a lot of attention and debate on Twitter, with some users defending Ama Governor’s right to be who she is and others accusing her of disrespecting the law and the profession.
Ama Governor has not yet responded to the GLC’s decision or the social media reactions. She was previously denied a call to the Bar in November 2022 after a controversial anonymous petition accused her of bad conduct online.
The General Legal Council set up a committee to investigate the applicant-in-waiting to be called to the bar popularly referred to as Ama Governor after complaint of misconduct widely circulated videos engaging in conduct unbecoming of a candidate.
After consideration of the report, the Council resolved to permit her to fill appropriate forms for application to be called to Bar in October/November 2023 citing observation and monitoring of her activities before considering her application.
However, in a surprising turn of events, the General Legal Council in a statement noted that it has declined the application of Ama Governor to be called to the Bar, with the ceremony on Friday, October 20, 2023.
According to the council her fate was decided at a meeting on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, after consideration of her public conduct leading up to the application.
While the specific details of the council’s concerns have not been disclosed, it is clear that Ama governor’s actions and statements in the public domain were deemed problematic enough to warrant the rejection of her application to join the bar.
On future considerations for Ama Governor to apply to join the bar the council noted that It was decided that she may reapply to be called to the Bar anytime there is a scheduled enrolment ceremony after the 20 October 2023 enrolment ceremony. It also added that her conduct will remain under scrutiny by the Council.
It is worth noting that the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, in July this year made some comments why some people are denied the privileged of being called to the bar after applying.
In the vide that went viral, Madam Torkornoo said;
“When somebody has behaved in a certain way and we say we cannot call the person to the bar, I was surprised at the furore that rose up concerning the call to the bar of certain people and I thought, like seriously?
“This is proper conduct for the legal sector? That is interesting. So, for you to come into the space of the legal sector, your conduct cannot be obscene and offensive and you expect to be admitted, it doesn’t work like that. Your comments on social media, your ex parte communication for judge is extremely critical,” she cautioned.
The Chief Justice gives the reason why Ama Governor, a social media influencer wasn’t called to the bar and may still not be called to the bar. pic.twitter.com/YoiIoqdKTn
Ama Governor, who felt directly targeted by the Chief Justice’s remarks, went on a Twitter rant to set the record straight. She vehemently denied engaging in any improper conduct and questioned the fairness of the process that led to the suspension of her “Call to the Bar.”
According to her tweets, she successfully defended herself against a petition that challenged her eligibility for admission to the Bar. The petition was based on three grounds, two of which she claimed were fabrications.
Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, also known as Kwaku Azar, has strongly criticised the General Legal Council (GLC), labelling their actions as “professional bullying.”
His comments come in the wake of the GLC’s treatment of Elorm Aba Ababio, a social media influencer and aspiring lawyer known as Ama Governor.
The GLC recently announced that Ama Governor’s Call to the Bar has been suspended for the second time.
Her application to the Bar was denied just days before the scheduled call to the Bar ceremony set for October 20, 2023.
The decision was conveyed through a letter dated October 18, 2023, signed by Justice Cyra Pamela C. A. Koranteng (JA), the Judicial Secretary.
The GLC’s decision was based on their evaluation of Elorm Ababio’s conduct in the period leading up to her application.
In response to the GLC’s decision, Kwaku Azar took to Facebook to express his concerns, denouncing the denial of Ama Governor’s Call to the Bar as a type of persecution that could have negative repercussions for the realms of education, innovation, and productivity.
He questioned the need for what he viewed as unwarranted scrutiny, stating, “This professional bullying stifles learning, creativity, productivity, etc. Why is a moribund regulator spying on this young woman? Da Yie!”
Azar further urged the GLC to reflect on their own conduct, suggesting that the conduct monitors should begin by evaluating their actions.
“The conduct monitors should start with their own conduct! We tolerate too much unjust conduct in this polity. Da Yie!”
He added in another post, “GLC should stop the persecution of Ama Governor. It has no power to monitor her or deny her a place at the Bar. Da Yie!”
Following a meeting held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, the General Legal Counsel resolved that Elorm Ababio’s application should be declined due to certain elements noted in her public conduct prior to the submission of her application.
The Council reached two decisions:
Elorm Ababio is permitted to complete the necessary forms for her application to be called to the Bar at any point in time after the October 20, 2023, event.
In the interim, the General Legal Council will continue to monitor Elorm Ababio’s conduct.
BACKGROUND
In 2022, Ama Governor, despite fulfilling all the necessary prerequisites, faced a denial of her call to the Bar.
The General Legal Council cited a complaint alleging “conduct unbecoming of an applicant to be called to the Bar” as the reason for their decision, triggering widespread public reactions both on and off social media.
Many individuals questioned the rationale behind this decision, while others praised the General Legal Council for its stance.
Ama Governor herself vehemently refuted any claims of offensive behaviour or inappropriate communication. She maintained that she had not been informed of any specific instances of misconduct and believed that she had been treated unfairly.
However, in September 2023, during the 2022-2023 bar conference, the General Legal Council revealed in a report that a committee had considered the complaint and Ama Governor had been granted permission to commence her application to be called to the Bar for the October/November 2023 sessions.
Elorm Ababio, also known as Ama Govenor, the law student who was denied admission to the bar in 2022, has responded to Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo regarding her recent defence of the General Legal Council’s decision to deny admission to certain individuals for a variety of reasons.
Despite passing all necessary exams, Ama Governor had her call to the bar suspended.
At that time, the General Legal Council (GLC) decided to suspend Ms. Ababio’s call to the bar in light of a petition Hajia Siduri had filed against her actions.
Speaking to the issue at an event in Accra (July 31), the CJ said she was surprised at the outrage that greeted the decision of the GLC in a video that has gone viral on twitter.
Ama retweeted a video of the CJ making the justification and posted an elaborate reply which described the continued citing of her case as “cruel.”
She also asserted that she was a victim of character assassination and spread of false information.
“Respectfully, I am still waiting to be told what my improper conduct was from 6th Nov, 2022 till date. I cannot handle this tarnishing of image and spread of false information about the true facts of the events that took place for much longer. This is cruel,” her first tweet read.
What the CJ said in Accra
“When somebody has behaved in a certain way and we say we cannot call the person to the bar, I was surprised at the furore that rose up concerning the call to the bar of certain people and I thought, like seriously?
“This is proper conduct for the legal sector? That is interesting. So, for you to come into the space of the legal sector, your conduct cannot be obscene and offensive and you expect to be admitted, it doesn’t work like that. Your comments on social media, your ex parte communication for judge is extremely critical,” she cautioned.
Ama Govenor’s full response:
Imagine this: 5th November I get the final result in- my bar exam result, and I’m index numbers 1 so number was first, I had passed. I was rejoicing and thinking about preparations towards my call on the 11th of Nov, 6 days away.
Only to be hit out of nowhere on 6th November with a letter from the regulators of the legal profession in Ghana, General Legal Council, that a concerned citizen of the Republic of Ghana has petitioned them on 3rd November that only me, Elorm Ama Governor-Ababio, I am not fit to be called to the bar and so on that basis ALONE, my Call to the bar has been suspended and that they’ll get back to me about further details (no date given).
Was it fair to use section 3 like this? All the time they thought I was not fit, they waited till my bar results came out and I had only 6 days to my call. Tell me.
Now, this powerful yet vexatious petition will upset you for various reasons. TW. 1. The petitioner stated three grounds upon which they believed that I was not fit to be a lawyer.
Two of them were complete fabrications which interestingly enough were rebutted by the very videos the petitioner attached to a pen drive on which they relied. Can you imagine? The two fallacious grounds were that, I can be seen in a widely circulated video with other GSL students tarnishing the schools reputation. Ei. They were referencing this video:
A video my classmates and I made for all persons outside the legal so where who want to become a part of us. You can go watch the video and read the comments for better understanding. This petitioner lied that because we were sharing that even us law students sleep in class when we’re tired sometimes, that we were damaging the schools reputation.
Can you imagine?! Secondly they lied that I can be seen in multiple videos consistently wearing my nose rings to school. First of all, contrary to this lie, even the videos they attached on the pen drive shows that my law school videos cover videos where I show how I comply with the ‘what is expected of law students in the GSL’, not that there even were express school rules against it, but just to be on the safe side; taking my nose ring out and inverting my septum, wearing those ugly shoes and loose black and white for 2 years. Never a conflict with any one in school. Only for someone who doesn’t know me to challenge my moral compass and singer-handedly and maliciously change the trajectory of my life. How did we get here?
The third ground which was not challenged as a lie was that I am queer and that I sleep with women. We argued that while that was blissful fact, it was not a ground on which I should be deemed unfit to be called to the bar. Simple. And guess what?!
This obviously frivolous petition that should not have passed the prima facie test, but which managed to stop my life, was thrown out in the very first hearing within 15 minutes.
They just said they have read our written submission and agree with us whole heartedly and so they do not wish to address me on anything in the petition. And yet since 6th November,2022, my name continues to be dragged in the most undignified ways. I hear in law classes, I am used as a bad example of people unworthy of the Ghana Bar.
When people like the Honourable CJ also talks about you like this,… I’m sorry but I do not recognize the person you are attempting to describe me as. Me? Immoral? Unfit?
Misconducting myself how? There’s not a single content I have put out on this internet that I will not boldly account for, not one, & still I think I am very fit to be called.
