Activist and lawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor has opened up in a candid Facebook post about his personal reflections on law, education, and values, stressing that true leadership and impact are not tied to prestigious schools or professional titles.
In his post, the #FixTheCountry convener admitted that he sometimes regrets becoming a lawyer or attending Harvard and Cambridge.
According to him, the weight of those credentials often overshadows the values that truly define him.
“I sometimes regret the fact that I became a lawyer or went to Harvard or Cambridge. This is because I feel like it has robbed the people who interact with me of perspective,” he wrote.
Barker-Vormawor explained that many young people who reach out to him often want mentorship with the hope of following in his academic footsteps, but he believes the focus is misplaced.
“Every time people reach out to me… they always ask me to help them go to law school or to a fancy school. I know a thousand lawyers who are nothing like me. If law school made you ethical and values-driven, our society won’t be where it is,” he stated.
He emphasized that it wasn’t law school that made him who he is, but rather the values he nurtured long before entering the profession.
“I am not good because I am a lawyer. I use the law to show you who I am and who you should be. I did not wait for the law to do that. The law waited for me to build my values first,” he noted.
Reflecting on his activism, Barker-Vormawor credited the #FixTheCountry movement for giving him a deeper sense of humanity.
“It allowed me to move from my ivory tower of fancy UN jobs and boardrooms to understanding true humanity. Mobilizing with illiterates and the educated affords different spectrums,” he explained.
For him, the ultimate lesson is clear: one does not need elite qualifications to make a difference. Instead, he urged people to practice integrity and courage daily.
“Do good when no one is watching. Lead when people want you to back down. Speak truth even at the peril of your life. Believe in justice and fairness passionately. It garners respect! Soon people will want to be like you! Case in point? Look at Kwesi Pratt!!” Barker-Vormawor concluded.
