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 July 1st, Legal 500 unveiled the fourth edition of the GC Powerlist: Portugal 2026, in partnership with PLMJ. Hosted once again on the rooftop terrace of the firm’s Lisbon office under a blazing summer sun, the event brought together many of Portugal’s most accomplished in-house lawyers to celebrate this distinguished community of legal leaders.
Returning to its individual-focused format, this year’s edition marked the reintroduction of the Rising Stars category, recognising some of the country’s most promising emerging in-house counsel. It also saw the world debut of the Transnational Leaders category, highlighting general counsel whose leadership and influence extend beyond national borders and whose responsibilities span multiple jurisdictions.
The evening commenced with a welcome address from Legal 500’s editorial lead Francisco Castro, who emphasised the importance of continuously evolving the publication to reflect the realities of Portugal’s in-house legal market. He highlighted the rigorous research and selection process behind the GC Powerlist series and congratulated the honourees for their outstanding contributions to the profession and the organisations they serve.
Following this introduction, Bruno Ferreira, Managing Partner of PLMJ, took to the stage to congratulate those recognised in this year’s edition. In his remarks, he underscored the increasingly strategic role of in-house counsel in supporting business growth, navigating complexity, and driving legal excellence. He also reflected on the transformative impact that AI is having on the legal function and the opportunities it presents for corporate legal teams.
Concluding the formal proceedings, Alexandra Reis, Senior Counsel at Tabaqueira and a recipient in the inaugural Transnational Leaders category, shared a few reflections on the significance of recognising in-house lawyers and the value of fostering a strong, connected legal community. Drawing on her own experiences, she spoke about the importance of networking, knowledge-sharing and celebrating a profession whose contributions often take place behind the scenes.
The launch of the GC Powerlist: Portugal 2026 proved to be a fitting celebration of the country’s leading in-house legal talent. The evening showcased the depth, expertise, and influence of Portugal’s corporate counsel community while reaffirming Legal 500’s commitment to recognising and championing its achievements. We extend our sincere thanks to all those who participated in this year’s research process, and to PLMJ for once again partnering with Legal 500 to provide a platform that honours these exceptional legal professionals.
