Ama Governor, a Ghanaian social media influencer and lawyer-in-waiting, has reaffirmed her queer identity in a public interview. She said that her sexuality has no impact on her ability to practice law in Ghana.
Ama Governor, who has over 500,000 followers on Instagram and Twitter, was previously barred from being called to the bar due to a petition filed against her by a “concerned citizen”. The petition alleged that she was unfit to be a lawyer because of her conduct on social media and her sexual orientation.
However, Ama Governor revealed that she has won the case and is set to be called to the bar in October 2023. She said that the petition was based on false and insufficient grounds and that her sexuality was not a valid reason to deny her the right to be a lawyer.
“I am queer, I am pansexual; yes, I sleep with women, but it is not a ground upon which you can say I am not fit to be called unto the bar, and that was our defense, and we won,” she said in an interview with Joy News on September 23, 2023, during the #OccupyJulorbihouse demonstration in Accra.
The demonstration was organized by a coalition of civil society groups and activists to protest against the poor state of the judicial system and the corruption allegations against the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah. Ama Governor was among the hundreds of protesters who marched to the official residence of the Chief Justice, demanding his resignation and accountability.
According to a report by the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) representative on the General Legal Council, Ama Governor has been permitted to complete the application processes to be called to bar in the October and November 2023 sessions. The report also stated that her conduct will be monitored during the time leading up to the submission of her application to be called to Bar. Additionally, she will be required to sign an undertaking to be of good behavior and not to repeat any conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute while enrolled as a lawyer in Ghana.
Ama Governor expressed her gratitude to her supporters and her legal team for standing by her throughout the ordeal. She also urged other queer people in Ghana to be proud of who they are and to pursue their dreams despite the challenges they may face.
“I have been working for seven years, but there is nothing to show for it. But I am not giving up, I am not backing down, I am not hiding who I am. I am here to make a difference, I am here to make history, I am here to make Ghana proud.”
Ama Governor’s case has drawn attention to the plight of the LGBTQ+ community in Ghana, where homosexuality is criminalized and stigmatized. In February 2023, a community center for LGBTQ+ people in Accra was raided and shut down by the police, sparking outrage and condemnation from human rights groups and activists. The government has also rejected calls to decriminalize homosexuality, saying that it is against the culture and values of Ghana.
However, despite the hostility and discrimination, some LGBTQ+ people in Ghana have been speaking out and advocating for their rights and dignity. Ama Governor is one of them, and she hopes that her story will inspire others to follow suit.
“I want to be a voice for the voiceless; I want to be a role model for the young ones; I want to be a trailblazer for the future. I want to show the world that being queer is not a curse; it is a blessing. And being a lawyer is not a privilege; it is a service.”
Source: Ghana Web
