Juventus Duorinaah becomes Ghana’s first deaf lawyer

In a landmark moment for Ghana’s legal landscape, Juventus Duorinaah, Esq., has etched his name in history as the country’s first lawyer with a hearing impairment.
His journey from a humble background to breaking barriers in the legal profession serves as a powerful inspiration for countless individuals in the disability community, proving that determination and resilience can defy societal expectations and create pathways to success.
In this feature, the PAD News Desk explores Juventus’ outstanding journey, the challenges he faced, and the message he hopes to share with others striving to overcome obstacles.
For Juventus, the recognition as Ghana’s first deaf lawyer feels surreal. “It feels like a dream,” he reflects, acknowledging the stereotypes surrounding deafness and the humble background from which he hails.
The public attention and accolades that have come his way were beyond his expectations.
“I knew I was on a unique journey, but I never imagined it would garner this much recognition.” Considering his humble background, he is at a loss as to why it was him and not someone else among all the deaf people in the country.
Juventus’ passion for law sparked in 2008 while seeking admission to the University of Ghana (UG).
Although he initially faced challenges due to the nature of the application process, the help of his older brother and his determined spirit led him to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2012, followed by a Master of Laws at Cardiff University in 2014.
His passion for the study of law became highly intense when he had to study alongside qualified lawyers from several jurisdictions, even though he did not have a legal background. Here, he faced the unique challenge of studying without sign language interpreters, relying instead on a palantypist to transcribe lectures.
Juventus’ role model was his professor and mentor, Professor Luke Clement, who profoundly inspired him in shaping his understanding of law and human rights.
In addition to Professor Luke, he had the privilege of being mentored by other young lecturers in social care, law, psychiatry, and many others.
He remembers Prof. Thomas Stephens from the University of Ghana School of Law, who inspired him with his way of dressing, in-depth knowledge of the law and engagement with students.
He recounts the enormous challenges he encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when lectures moved online, and Dr. Stephens’ tremendous support to ensure things moved quickly and smoothly for him.
‘I also had the chance to have a few classes with the Dean himself, Prof. Raymond Atuguba. He taught the course such that some of us never felt scared as other lecturers made the course,’ he recalled.
Juventus’ academic journey was fraught with challenges, particularly in communication.
The year 2007 was the last time he studied with deaf peers. He was often the only deaf person in his classes throughout the following years of his education, which made interaction with peers difficult.
He recalls the feeling of loneliness and the struggles to engage in group learning, jokes and non-academic activities with other students.
“I have few friends, but most of the time we are unable to interact freely and effectively. Sometimes we just wave at each other!” he stated.
Despite these hurdles, he remained high-spirited, studying late into the night and seeking help from kind classmates when necessary.
Juventus attributes much of his success to the support of his family and friends. “My family has always been there, encouraging me and believing in my potential,” he shares.
His wife played a crucial role, supporting him through the rigors of his studies.
Reflecting on his academic experience at UG, he connected his affection for the university to his older brother, who is also an alumnus.
He felt inspired to be a student of the premier university, saying he would choose the University of Ghana any time, any day, if given the chance to further his studies or work.
With his remarkable achievement, Juventus has a powerful message for Ghana’s disability community: “Never see your disabilities as barriers. Instead, view them as opportunities to do something different.”
He emphasises that individuals with disabilities possess the same intellectual capabilities as their non-disabled peers.
His call to action extends to parents of children with disabilities, urging them to invest in their education and see their children as blessings rather than burdens.
The University of Ghana School of Law, along with its Dean, Professor Raymond Atuguba, the Director of Legal Education of the Ghana School of Law, Yaw Bramiah Oppong and his capable team, including the Registrar and Deputy Registrar of the Ghana School of Law and the Office for Students with Special Needs (UG), made significant contributions to his journey.
“They understand people with disabilities and are ready to provide the needed support. Indeed, the Director demonstrated commendable leadership by ensuring that my interpreters were taken care of and supported,” he said.
Prof. Atuguba acknowledged Juventus’ achievement as evidence of the university’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “His journey symbolises that law is accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or abilities,” he stated.
He adds that ‘At UGSoL, we believe that everyone, regardless of one’s physical abilities, should have unimpeded entree into any education or training that they so qualify for, particularly legal education.’
Commenting on how the School accommodated his special needs, Prof. Atugugba explained that ‘In the case of Juventus, we worked closely with him to understand and address his special needs, ensuring he had access to the teaching and learning resources in the appropriate formats that would support his academic journey.
These included providing timely transcription services, adapting lecture materials so he could easily access them and ensuring effective communication between the faculty and him.
UGSoL also worked closely with the Office for Students with Special Needs to provide the necessary assistance, including sign language interpreters, to further support Juventus.’
Professor Atuguba noted that Juventus’s journey is just beginning, and the future holds promise for him and the many lives he aims to touch along the way.
‘At UGSoL, our doors are open to every individual who seeks quality legal education,’ he added.
Juventus’s close friend Ida Esi McOwusu Esq., described her first encounter with Juventus as ‘intriguing.’
“My first meeting with Juventus was in class, where he sat right in front of me in first year,” Ida reveals. She was intrigued and wanted to find out more about him, especially how Juventus navigated his way to this level. “I got closer and we became friends from there,” she remarked.
Furthermore, Ida talked about how her interactions with him enhanced her knowledge of the deaf community.
Ida worried about the accuracy of his interpreters since they did not have a legal background, and about Juventus losing track of lectures or tutorials during times when his interpreters were absent, which she deemed a challenge that Lawyer Duorinaah encountered during his school years.
“Law is not limited to only a certain class or type of people, as has been portrayed out there,” she emphasised, defining how Lawyer Juventus’ milestones shifted perceptions.
Mr. Francis Kweku Essel, Juventus’ interpreter, shed light on the primary challenges he faced in carrying out his job, particularly the complex nature of legal terminology and concepts.
This validates Ida’s comment on the interpreters’ lack of legal background as a challenge Lawyer Duorinaah encountered.
“Many legal terms and phrases had no direct equivalent in Ghanaian Sign Language, requiring me to develop creative and accurate sign language representations,” Mr. Essel stated.
This often involved breaking down complex ideas into simpler components and using descriptive gestures to convey meaning.
Additionally, the rapid pace of lectures, long working hours and the volume of information presented posed significant challenges for the interpreter.
A memorable moment Mr. Essel recalls was when a lecturer approached him with doubts about Juventus’ ability to succeed. “I assured them that while I may not have a legal background, my skills as a sign language interpreter would enable me to effectively convey the information.”
He expressed his satisfaction and pride when Juventus was successfully called to the bar: “It was a truly momentous occasion.”
Juventus dreams of becoming a judge and aims to enhance justice delivery while serving as a role model for young people with disabilities. “I want to ensure that deaf individuals in Ghana know their rights and understand the law,” he asserts.
He is currently mentoring a group of young deaf students interested in pursuing law, hoping to pave the way for future generations. What’s next for Lawyer Juventus?
His next step is to complete his pupilage, after which he can decide further his legal career.

Source: ug.edu.gh