Essi Matilda Forster

**Essi Matilda Forster** (dem born am for 12 September 1922 – she die insyd August 1998) na she be Ghanaian lawyer den de first female native of de Gold Coast (now Ghana) wey qualify as a lawyer.

## Ein early life den education
Na dem born Forster to George James Christian, den Aba Lucy French, insyd Sekondi, de Gold Coast, for 12 September 1922. Na ein poppie hail from de Eastern Caribbean island of Dominica buh na he settle insyd de town of Sekondi insyd 1902. Na he consider einsef a "returned exile" after he attend de First Pan-African Conference wey dem organise am insyd London insyd 1900. Na he be businessman den a private legal practitioner wey na he represent de Western Province as a member of de Gold Coast Legislative Council from 1930 to 1940. Na Forster ein mommie hail from Shama insyd de Western Region of de den Gold Coast.    

Forster begin ein education insyd England wen na she be five years old. Insyd England, na dem bell am to de bar at Gray's Inn insyd November 1945. For 15 April 1947, dem call am to de Bar insyd de Gold Coast. Na she cam turn de first female Gold Coast native wey cam turn a lawyer, den de third woman insyd British West Africa wey accomplish dis feat. Na she be preceded by de Nigerian lawyer den first African woman wey attain dis feat, Stella Thomas, den Frances Claudia Wright, a Sierra Leonean lawyer wey cam turn de second woman insyd Africa wey cam turn a lawyer.

## Ein career
Dey follow ein call to de Bar insyd de Gold Coast, dem call Forster to de Gambian Bar,wey na she work insyd Gambia as a lawyer from 1947 to 1951. Insyd July 1951, she return to de Gold Coast plus ein husby Edward Francis Bani Forster wey na dem appoint de latter by de den colonial administration wey work at de Accra Mental Hospital. Na Forster take up a job as de acting registrar of births, deaths den companies. Na she work insyd dis office for about six months. From 1957 to 1982 na she be de legal counsel give Mobil Oil Ghana Limited.    

Aside from legal practice, Forster engage insyd oda public den professional activities. Na she be a member give a number of committees den organizations, sam of wey na she help make dem establish. Na she be founding member of de Ghana International School Committee, wey na she serve for de committee top from 1954 to 1959. Na she sana serve for de Accra Magisterial District Prohibition Committee as a member, around de aforementioned period. Na she help found de Accra branch of de Inner Wheel Club, den de International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) insyd Ghana, wey she serve as de association ein presido. Insyd ein lifetime, na Forster play active roles insyd de Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). Na she serve as ein vice-pee den secretary give ein Hostel committee. From 1969 to 1972, na she be chairperson of de Accra Nurses den Midwives School Board of Governors, den from 1972 to 1975, na she be substitute member of de World Association of Girl Guides den Girl Scouts' Constitution Committee, while wey na she preside ova de Ghana Girl Guides.           

## Ein life matter den death
Na Forster marry professor Edward Francis Bani Forster, de Gold Coast psychiatrist of Gambian descent, on 17 December 1944. Na dem get three kiddies; a daughter den two sons. Na she be Christian den a congregant of de Accra Ridge Church, wer na she work as de Sunday School secretary for about 17 years, from 1963 to 1980. Na ein hobbies include walking den volunteering. 

Na she die insyd August 1988 aged 75. For de time, na she be de most experienced lawyer for de Ghana Bar. Na ein burial service take place for de Accra Ridge Church, on 14 August 1998.

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