Ghana 2026
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Senior manager, legal affairs | MTN GlobalConnect Solutions Ltd (Bayobab)
Global director compliance, labour & employment and incidence management | Mastercard Foundation
General counsel and Head of corporate services | OceanLift Subsea Ghana LTD
Group head, legal and recovery departments and Company secretary | OmniBSIC Bank
Senior legal counsel and Company secretary | Unilever Ghana PLC
Head of the legal department and General counsel | Agricultural Development Bank PLC (ADB PLC)
Group head of legal and compliance and Group company secretary | PETRA
Manager, legal | Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC)
Legal and human resources manager and Company secretary | MISA Energy Ghana Ltd
Head of legal and compliance and Company Secretary | Hollard Life Assurance Ghana LTD
Head of legal and compliance and Company secretary | Amenfiman Rural Bank Plc
Director and head, legal and enforcement department | Securities & Exchange Commission, Ghana
Group head, legal and compliance and Company secretary | Enterprise Group PLC
Head of legal and compliance and Company secretary | SUNU Assurances Ghana LTD
Executive: governance, risk and compliance | Sanlam Allianz Life Insurance Ghana LTD
Legal and company secretariat | Ghana Airports Company Limited
Group head, legal and Company secretary | KGL Group of Companies LTD (KGL Group)
Senior corporate lawyer | VAAL Real Estate Ltd.Â
Director, legal division | Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC)
Head of legal and compliance and Company secretary | Vivo Energy Ghana PLC
Legal and compliance manager | Genser Energy Ghana Limited
Special aide to the governor and advisor - corporate governance and stakeholder management | Bank of Ghana
Legal affairs manager | Eni Ghana Exploration & Production Ltd
Company secretary and Deputy head, legal | Star Assurance Group Limited Company
Legal counsel and Company secretary | Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC
Director, legal and corporate affairs | Cenpower Generation Ltd
Divisional head, general internal services and Company secretary | Guaranty Trust Bank (Ghana) Ltd
CEO and Group head, legal and compliance | Regulus Investments & Financial Services Ghana Limited
Executive head, legal and Company secretariat | Bank of Africa - Groupe Bank of Africa
Senior manager, commercial legal and Company secretary | MTN Ghana
Country lead, legal and corporate affairs | Anheuser-Busch InBev
Chief risk, legal and compliance officer | Prudential Life Insurance Ghana
Head of legal and compliance and Board secretary | Imperial General Assurance
I am honoured to introduce Legal 500’s GC Powerlist: Ghana 2026, in recognition of leading in-house counsel across the country. Legal 500 is delighted to celebrate such an impressive co-hort of lawyers and mark their achievements, providing a platform to recognise the invaluable role that in-house counsel play in today’s legal and business landscape.
It is a role that has developed and shifted significantly in recent years, as geopolitical, technological and economic trends continue to fluctuate: ‘modern in‑house counsel have to navigate rapidly evolving and unpredictable environments’, says Afua Oduro Asante, Global director: compliance, labour and employment law and incidence management at Mastercard Foundation. This development positions legal teams as more than purely gatekeepers within their organisations, but rather as a key cog in business operations.
The modern in-house counsel must continue to add to their skill set, in line with this evolution. Adaptability and agility, therefore, are essential attributes for today’s in-house counsel. Eugene Gilbert Amponsah, Head of legal at CalBank PLC, argues that agility is ‘perhaps the most defining attribute that the modern in-house counsel must develop and demonstrate’. Abena Fordjour Acquah, Senior manager, legal affairs at MTN GlobalConnect Solutions Ltd (Bayobab), agrees, pointing out that ‘it’s important to be agile and quick to adapt because laws, technology, and business priorities change fast.’
And awareness of business objectives has become another integral part of the in-house role. Legal teams must be agile enough to provide advice that is both legally and commercially sound. In-house lawyers are increasingly relied upon to advise the organisation in a way that drives growth and aligns with and enables business strategy.
‘Ultimately, a modern in-house counsel sees themselves as a strategic partner, combining legal expertise, commercial insight, and practical problem-solving to help the business grow while remaining compliant and responsible’, Naa Shiokor Boi-Bi-Boi, Head of legal and compliance and Company secretary at Vivo Energy Ghana PLC reminds us.
Isabel Caine
On 26 March, Legal 500 partnered with Portuguese law firm PLMJ to bring its renewed sustainability‑focused conference series to Lisbon with the ESG Forum: Portugal 2026. The half‑day event gathered senior leaders from the legal, financial, energy and sustainability spheres for a concentrated programme hosted at PLMJ’s offices. Throughout the sessions, speakers explored the regulatory, governance and enforcement forces reshaping ESG strategy in Portugal, offering a clear cross‑sector perspective on how organisations are adapting to an increasingly complex and fast‑moving landscape.
The event opened with some welcome remarks from Legal 500 editor Francisco Castro, who emphasised the value of events that bring the in‑house community together to learn, exchange experiences and build meaningful professional networks. In his welcome address, he highlighted the growing complexity of ESG obligations across Europe and the increasing pressure on organisations to adopt integrated, business‑wide approaches to compliance, risk management and strategic planning. By underscoring the need for practical, grounded discussion rather than abstract theory, he set the tone for a programme designed to deliver actionable insight and foster collaboration among practitioners navigating a rapidly evolving ESG landscape.
Followed an opening brief delivered by PLMJ’s Managing Partner, Bruno Ferreira, who provided a concise yet comprehensive overview of the ESG priorities defining Portugal in 2026. He outlined the expanding influence of EU regulatory frameworks on corporate reporting, due diligence and governance, noting how these requirements are reshaping expectations around data quality, transparency and accountability. His remarks positioned ESG not as a peripheral concern but as a central driver of corporate behaviour, capital flows and long‑term competitiveness in the Portuguese market.
The first panel, moderated by João Marques Mendes, Partner at PLMJ and joined by Cláudia Teixeira de Almeida of Banco BPI, Nuno Moraes Bastos of GALP and Diogo Graça of REN, explored how corporate governance and sustainable finance are shaping Portugal’s energy transition. The discussion examined how boards and executive teams are adapting oversight structures to manage transition‑related risks and how legal, compliance, sustainability and procurement functions are increasingly intertwined in project governance. Panellists described the growing influence of financing structures on project execution, noting that lenders’ expectations around ESG metrics, contractor performance and transparency now shape governance decisions from the earliest stages. They also addressed the operational constraints that continue to challenge Portugal’s transition ambitions, including permitting timelines, grid capacity limitations and delivery risk. While acknowledging the complexity of EU‑level frameworks, speakers emphasised that these standards also present strategic opportunities to harmonise practices, unlock investment and strengthen Portugal’s competitive position in the energy transition.
Following a short break, the second panel turned to litigation, liability and the emerging enforcement era surrounding sustainability claims. Moderated by Raquel Azevedo, Partner at PLMJ and featuring contributions from Carla Góis Coelho of PLMJ, Carlos Martins Ferreira of Jerónimo Martins, Filipa Rodrigues Carmona of Caixa Geral de Depósitos and Céline da Graça Pires of NOVA, the session examined the rapid rise of ESG‑driven disputes, investigations and regulatory actions. Panellists discussed the typical trigger points for scrutiny, ranging from sustainability reports and corporate websites to marketing materials and investor presentations, and highlighted how these touchpoints are increasingly tested by regulators, competitors, consumers and NGOs. They analysed recent case law developments and their implications for Portuguese organisations, noting the emergence of more stringent evidentiary standards around disclosures and due‑diligence obligations. The panel concluded that sustainability claims can no longer be treated as aspirational messaging; they now carry the weight of binding legal obligations, requiring more rigorous internal validation and cross‑functional coordination.
The forum concluded with closing remarks from Francisco Castro, after which attendees were invited to continue their conversations over a light lunch, providing a relaxed setting to deepen connections and reflect on the themes explored throughout the morning.
Legal 500 extends its thanks to PLMJ for its collaboration in bringing this conference format to Portugal’s in‑house legal community. The team looks forward to returning soon for the launch event of this year’s GC Powerlist: Portugal.
