The experienced team at AELEX advises on energy and utilities finance as well as energy-sector mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures. Other core areas of focus include advising on electricity and gas transmission as well as distribution and supply. The group is recommended also for its work on power purchase agreements and off-take and tolling arrangements. Combined with its Nigerian practice, the team, under the direction of Soji Awogbade, is adept in large due diligence exercises. Awogbade has a broad range of expertise and regularly advises companies on issues relating to the petroleum sector, and managing associate Kwesi Dodi frequently works with the regulatory agencies in Ghana’s petroleum industry.
Energy in Ghana
AELEX
Practice head(s):
Soji Awogbade
Other key lawyers:
Kwesi A Dodi; Naa Asheley Ashittey
Testimonials
‘The people are open and are capable of handling all jobs contracted to them. Successful results can be expected whenever they are called into any task. You can see collaborative efforts in the background of the jobs they handle’.
‘Very assertive and have control over their field of work. You could talk of Kwesi Dodi and Naa Asheley – the people I directly work with’.
Key clients
Rowan Rigs
Bristow Helicopters Ghana Limited
GOS Limited
SBM Offshore
Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah
Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah continues to work on the most significant transactions in the market involving oil and gas, renewables and power. In the upstream oil and gas space, its experience spans all the phases of project development. It has also worked on various high-profile deals in downstream and midstream oil and gas. Under the leadership of Seth Asante, Seyram Dzikunu and Elizabeth Ashun, the group also garners praise for its advice on all aspects of renewable and thermal energy. The group is well placed to handle a wide array of issues from petroleum and gas sale agreements to fuel supply and power purchase agreements. It often advises on interconnection agreements and the related security documentation to obtain the financing for these deals. Its clients range from leading multinational oil and gas companies to private equity funds and investors. Other key clients include operators and small-to-medium businesses.
Practice head(s):
Seth Asante; Seyram Dzikunu; Elizabeth Ashun
Other key lawyers:
Godwin Ofosuhene Nkrumah
Testimonials
‘Bentsi-Enchill has a well established presence in Ghana with a full and deep understanding of the applicable regulations, public administrations and private sector needs in respect at operating in the Ghana business market. They have excellent relationships with the regulatory stakeholders’.
‘Responsive, clear and timely advice on a consistent basis. Seyram Dzikunu, Seth Asante and Godwin Nkrumah are star performers in oil and gas disputes’.
‘Seyram is a first class lawyer with a razor sharp instinct’.
‘Seth is the elder statesman, he brings authority and experience’.
‘Godwin is an up and coming lawyer – one to watch’.
‘The individuals I had the opportunity to deal with have a strong theoretical approach combined with a reasonable business orientation, the partner and associate I’m working with are professional and experts in the area of my interest which makes it easy for me to have good results when I’m engaging with them’.
Key clients
Tullow Ghana Limited
Occidental Petroleum Corporation (Oxy)
Vitol SA
Aker Energy
Kosmos Energy Ghana
Vivo Energy
PGS ASA
Reganosa
Valaris
Work highlights
- Advised on the Ghanaian aspects of the sale of Oxy’s petroleum interests in the Jubilee and TEN oil fields in Ghana.
- Advising Maersk Drilling on the proposed corporate reorganisation of its Ghana operations.
- Acting as a sub-consultant to PwC Ghana advising the Energy Commission and Ministry for Energy on the development of a natural gas distribution network.
ENSafrica
The talented team at ENSafrica advises on the full range of energy and natural resources matters, from oil and gas and nuclear power to renewable energy and petroleum storage. Amina Abugdanpoka Kaguah leads the practice, which includes Paa Kwesi Morrison, who specialises in various areas including energy and natural resources, and Rachel Dagadu, who is sought after for her expertise in gas, energy and petroleum law and continues to advise on a number of high-profile and complex matters in this space. The group regularly works with the Energy Commission to assist clients in obtaining licenses and to comply with local content regulations.
Practice head(s):
Amina Kaguah
Other key lawyers:
Paa Kwesi Morrison; Rachel Dagadu
Key clients
Red Sea Gateway Terminals
CrossBoundary Energy
FirstRand Bank
Standard Chartered Bank
China Zhongyuan Engineering Corporation
Vitol S.A.
Trafigura PTE Ltd
Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining Co.
International Finance Corporation
Absa Bank Limited
Work highlights
- Advising on the award of a concession by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to Red Sea Gateway Terminals to develop an oil and gas services hub in the Port of Tema.
- Assisted CrossBoundary Energy on regulatory issues and financing, constructing, commissioning and operating the solar PV installations contemplated in Crossboundary’s current contracts.
- Advising on a transaction involving a $480m facility to Early Power to finance the construction of a 400MW LPG fired combined cycle gas turbine plant and associated LPG fuel storage and transportation infrastructure.
Reindorf Chambers
The highly regarded team at Reindorf Chambers has developed considerable expertise in the power sector. This expertise spans renewable energy, oil and gas (both downstream and upstream), as well as minerals. The team is recommended for its regulatory and tax advice as well as for its skill in advising on project financing and acquisitions. Practice head Fui Tsikata has considerable expertise in advising clients on energy investments in Ghana, and the group frequently assists clients on both domestic and cross-border financing on a range of deals and projects in the mining and energy sectors.
Practice head(s):
Fui Tsikata
Other key lawyers:
Dominic Dziewornu Quashigah
Testimonials
‘To work with REINDORF CHAMBERS it has been for me and for my group a unique experience for the knowledge, capabilities, availability 24/7 and kindness. I have worked with them for several years and all members of staff have been very professional and competent’.
‘I know that with REINDORF CHAMBERS I am in safe hands. Never had I met people so competent and ready to assist us without any limit of time. Also, the bill at the end of the work done has been always very reasonable’.
‘Dominic Quashigah is very competent, resourceful and available to assist with our legal needs’.
Key clients
C-NERGY Ghana Limited
Secant Technologies and Litwin SA
Vulcan Holdings Limited
KPMG
Work highlights
- Advising a major petroleum marketing company on a transaction involving the 11 years letting by the client of eight petroleum retail stations.
- Advising a syndicate of lenders and the mandated lead arranger in relation to a proposed $120m refinancing of outstanding financial arrangements of a major power generation company in Ghana.
- Advising the clients that provided project management consultancy services to the Tema Oil Refinery in respect of the expansion of its crude oil distillation unit at its oil refinery.
JLD & MB Legal Consultancy
JLD & MB Legal Consultancy boasts a significant oil and gas practice and also has extensive experience in mining and minerals work. Among the key senior members of the team are Merene Botsio Benyah and Akosua Apea Osafo. The team's expertise spans all aspects of energy and natural resources, and it is lauded for its work in the upstream and downstream sectors and for its advice to leading oil and gas companies on a myriad of legal and regulatory issues. Lily Acquaye and Zoe Phillips Takyi-Appiah are other notable members of the department.
Practice head(s):
Merene Botsio Benyah; Lily Acquaye; Zoe Phillips Takyi-Appiah; Akosua Apea Osafo
Key clients
Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund
Asante Gold Corporation
Quad Energy Limited
Zeepay Ghana Limited
Yinson Productions West Africa Limited
KOKA Energy Limited
BP Oil International Limited
Swipebill Ghana Limited
Fast Pace Transfer Limited
Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB)
Fidelity Bank Limited
Access Bank Ghana
AKA Ausfuhrkredit-Gesellschaft mbH (AKA Bank Germany)
Atlantic Lithium Resources Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Asante Gold on its secondary listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange.
- Advised Asante Gold on its acquisition of Resolute’s Bibiani Gold mine in Ghana for $90m.
- Advised the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund in respect of a multimillion-dollar facility.
WTS Nobisfields
WTS Nobisfields has considerable experience in the energy space and frequently advises on joint venture agreements as well as petroleum agreements. Theophilus Tawiah leads the team, which regularly assists clients in general compliance matters in the upstream and downstream segments.
Practice head(s):
Theophilus Tawiah
Testimonials
‘We are highly appreciative of how responsive WTS Nobisfields is when it comes to delivering on our assignments’.
‘Theophilus Tawiah is always on hand to respond to our issues. And he brings a practical understanding of issues that is highly impressive’.
‘WTS Nobisfields is my ‘go to’ firm in Ghana without any doubt. Strong team, diversified, reasonable fees, and with a strong energy practice and audit defence team’.
‘Theophilus Tawiah is extremely knowledgeable, he is very responsive’.
‘WTS Nobisfields is a one-stop shop for bespoke legal support. The team has the knowledge and has excellent client support’.
‘Theophilus Tawiah has command over the law and he is brilliant. He is continually improving expertise and exceeds expectations’.
Key clients
Nobel Drilling
PHI Century Ltd
Vana Energy Ltd
Vitol Upstream Ghana Limited
Vitol Upstream Tano Limited
Akoben Supply Company Ghana Ltd
Vitol Ghana Services Ltd
Cenpower Operations and Services Ltd
Work highlights
- Advised PHI Century on a petroleum agreement, tax, local content requirements and its impact on petroleum sub-contractors.
- Advised Noble Drilling on drilling restructuring in the petroleum sector.
- Advises the Vitol Group on legal compliance in the petroleum sector.