Team size: 11

Career Biography

Abena Fordjour Acquah is an accomplished legal practitioner with extensive experience in corporate and commercial law, arbitration, and international trade. She is committed to excellence, corporate growth and strategic legal management and compliance. With a wealth of experience across various industries, she continues to drive impactful legal initiatives while fostering strong corporate governance practices.

With a proven track record in telecommunications, Abena currently serves as Senior Manager, Legal Affairs at MTN GlobalConnect Solutions Ltd (trading as Bayobab Group), a wholesale digital telecommunication services company with cross-continental footprints in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. At MTN GlobalConnect Solutions Ltd, she provides strategic legal advisory services, negotiates high-value contracts, and mitigates legal risks across multiple jurisdictions.

Abena has also built a track record in other areas, such as corporate law and banking, and has previously held key legal positions at MTN Ghana, Republic Bank, and top-tier law firms. At these institutions, she built her expertise in contract negotiation, legal innovation, regulatory compliance, litigation strategy, and corporate governance. These skills have made her a critical asset in high-stake legal and business environments.

Abena holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) from the University of California, Berkeley, with specialisation in Business Law and Law & Technology. She is a member of both the Ghana Bar Association and the International Bar Association.

Abena has made an impact in strengthening legal frameworks, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations, and successfully leading high-profile negotiations. Through her leadership, she has contributed to the transformation of legal operations within multinational organisations, reinforcing their resilience in dynamic markets.

What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past twelve months?

Over the past twelve months, I played a central role in negotiating and finalising a wide range of commercial agreements, including MSAs, IRUs, infrastructure deployment contracts, and vendor procurement arrangements. This included streamlining contract processes, enhancing template usage, and improving turnaround times through better coordination with internal stakeholders.

I have supported several strategic and operational initiatives across Bayobab and the wider MTN Group.

In support of Bayobab’s infrastructure expansion strategy, I provided legal guidance on fibre deployment, wayleave and right‑of‑way matters, and multi‑country network build projects. Finally, I contributed to policy updates, corporate governance enhancements, and internal compliance initiatives aimed at strengthening operational efficiency and risk management.

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

During periods of instability or crises, I try to keep things steady by quickly figuring out the legal issues that need attention right away and making sure the business has clear, practical guidance. The first step is to look at where we might be exposed; that includes our contracts, regulatory and compliance obligations, or any risks that could worsen if not managed early. I stay close to the operational teams, so I understand what’s happening on the ground and can help them make informed decisions. Good communication is key because it keeps everyone aligned and avoids surprises. Throughout, I make sure the legal response supports the wider business strategy by protecting the organisation’s interests, helping it stay compliant, and ensuring continuity so that it can come out of the crisis stronger.

What do you think are the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess?

A modern in‑house lawyer needs to be more than just technically strong. They have to understand how the business works and be able to give advice that helps the company move forward, not just avoid risk. It’s important to be agile and quick to adapt because laws, technology, and business priorities change fast. Good communication skills are essential, too, as people across the business should feel they can rely on you to explain complex issues in simple, practical terms. Technological fluency is increasingly important from using legal‑tech tools to work more efficiently, for example streamlining manual contracting, to digital contracting processes or understanding data protection or emerging cyber risks issues in several jurisdictions. Above all, an effective in‑house counsel needs sound judgment, integrity and the ability to anticipate problems before they become major issues.

Considering recent developments, such as the country’s plan for a 24-hour economy, sustainability agenda and increasing digitalisation, are there any trends of which you think in-house lawyers should be mindful?

Recent changes in Ghana’s policy direction mean in‑house lawyers need to pay close attention to several emerging trends. The move toward a 24‑hour economy will likely bring new labour rules, shift‑based work arrangements, and more regulatory and compliance requirements for businesses that operate around the clock so legal teams will need to stay on top of new laws in these areas. At the same time, Ghana’s rapid digitalisation, especially the rise of mobile money, fintech, and government‑driven ICT infrastructure means stricter expectations around data protection, cybersecurity, and digital contracts. These shifts point to a future where the legal landscape is more complex, more technology‑driven, and more focused on responsible, sustainable practices.