LAWYER JOYCE OPOKU-BOATENG
(BARRISTER AND SOLICITOR OF THE SUPREME COURT OF GHANA)FOUNDER AND CEO
The desire to set up an NGO focusing mainly on the rights of women and children stemmed out of the number of years working as a gender rights advocate both in the governmental and non-governmental establishments. The passion to make a difference in the lives of women and children, particularly victims of human rights abuses was given more impetus, when in September 2007, she was selected by the USA Department of State as a Distinguished Visitor and participated in the prestigious International Visitor Program under the theme “Combating Trafficking in Persons II”. Education
Joyce started her primary or basic education at the Methodist School, Kwahu Danteng and continued at the Morning Star Preparatory School, Cantonments, Accra where she sat for the Common Entrance Examination. She proceeded to Aburi Girls Secondary for her O’Level and A’Level Examinations (1979-1986).
She was admitted to the University in 1987 and graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Sociology. She undertook the Professional Course at the Ghana Law School and was called to the Ghana Bar in 1994 as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana.
To give herself an international exposure she proceeded to the United Kingdom where she studied various courses including Legal Secretaryship, Law Relating to Banking(Chartered Institute of Bankers, UK) and on-the-job capacity training.Professional Experience
Joyce has practised as a lawyer in various establishments home and abroad. She has undergone extensive training as a Trainer of Trainers in various aspects of Human Rights, particularly in Child Rights and Gender Advocacy.
- Member of the Disciplinary Committee of the GFA
- Member /Resource person – Federation of International Women Lawyers – FIDA
- Member /Resource person– African Women Lawyers Association
- Member of the Kaneshie Presbyterian Church – Building and Harvest Committees member
Job Experience
- Legal Counsel/Company Secretary/Office Manager – Prestea Sankofa Gold Ltd
- Legal Officer (State Attorney) – Ministry for Women and Children’s Affairs
- Partner – Opoku-Boateng & Associates, Legal Practitioners
- Legal Practitioner – Peasah Boadu & Co. Legal Practitioners
- Legal Assistant – Waran & Co Solicitors, London
- Legal Assistant – Yvonne Brown & Co Solicitors, London
- Company Secretary – Osei Wiredu & Associates, Chartered Accountants
- Court Clerk (National Service) – Judicial Service of Ghana
- Associate Lecturer – Methodist University
- Legal Officer/ Resource Person – African Women Lawyers Association –
Expert/Consultant in Human Rights
- Member of the Federation of International Women Lawyers
- Resource person in mass gender and child rights education
- Trainer of Trainers in Human Rights
- Resource person in Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking
- Trainer of Security personnel (Police, Military and Immigration) in Human Rights
International Exposure
- Honoured as Honourable Colonel of the Order of the Kentucky Colonels, USA (2007)
- Honoured as Supremo Viajante del Sudoeste by the El Paso , USA (2007)
- Represented the Honourable Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs at ECOWAS, Abuja (2004)
- Represented the Honourable Minister at the Hemispheric Summit of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Washington, USA, (2004)
- Have attended various workshops and conferences in Senegal, Cameroun, Benin
- Resource person for Save the Children, Sweden, on Child Rights and trained military personnel going on peace-keeping
- Trainer of Trainers on human issues including Trafficking in persons, Domestic Violence, Child Rights, Property Rights, Housing Rights
- Legal Technologies, London – Litigation Support Officer
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