Juventus Duorinaah, a native of Wa in the Upper West Region, has made history as the first deaf person to be called to the bar, marking a significant milestone for inclusivity in Ghana’s legal profession.
Mr. Duorinaah’s remarkable journey began at the Wa School for the Deaf, where he received his basic education.
Despite the challenges of living with a hearing impairment, his drive to excel remained undeterred. He continued his education at the Senior High Technical School for the Deaf (SHTSD), completing his studies in 2007.
Driven by an ambition to break barriers, Mr. Duorinaah earned a first-class degree in sociology and political science from the University of Ghana.
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His academic success paved the way for further studies, leading him to Cardiff University’s School of Law and Politics in the United Kingdom, where he obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M) with a focus on human rights law.
Upon returning to Ghana, Mr. Duorinaah set his sights on a law degree. He enrolled in the University of Ghana’s law program, graduating with second-class lower honors before passing the rigorous entrance exams required for admission to the Ghana School of Law.
After six years of intense legal training, marked by resilience and determination, Mr. Duorinaah’s perseverance paid off. He is now a fully qualified lawyer, having been called to the bar—a historic first for Ghana’s legal community.
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He joins the likes of Carruthers Tetteh who has made his mark on Ghana’s legal and academic landscape as the first visually impaired law lecturer at the University of Cape Coast and was called to the bar in 2022.
Throughout his career, Mr. Tetteh has earned several degrees, including an LLB and an LLM with a specialization in Alternative Dispute Resolution.
As the first hearing-impaired lawyer to be called to the bar, Juventus Duorinaah, who doubles as Director at Ghana National Association of the Deaf has redefined what is possible for people living with disabilities in Ghana.