Team size: 2

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

The Legal Department of Unilever Ghana PLC, in partnership with all departments, commenced a Document Management Project in 2023 with the aim of enhancing productivity through easier access to documentation, as well as reducing litigation and reputational risks associated with documentation, in order to effectively defend third-party claims.

The project remains ongoing in 2025, with the commencement of Phase 2. This phase is being implemented in compliance with the Data Protection Act and the Unilever Ghana Data Retention Policy, which sets out the data retention periods for specific documentation relating to the various departments.

The project is being delivered through the engagement of a third-party company to provide the following services. Phase 1 involved the physical archiving of Unilever’s documents, including but not limited to the sorting, indexing, and storage of documentation. Phase 2 includes the development of a document management software interface, retention policy metadata, and search functions, as well as the digitisation of Unilever’s physical documents. It also includes the training of Unilever Document Management Champions on accessing and managing archives, to ensure continuity of the project, and the development of a detailed document control process to guide archive access and document control from inception to archiving, in line with data protection laws.

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

The most important attributes include commercial and business acumen. To fully support the business as in-house counsel and act as an effective business partner to the various departments, one must first think like a businessperson and have a real understanding of the nature of the business, its goals and strategies, risks, and financial position, among other factors. This enables issues to be considered in context, improves understanding, and allows legal advice to be aligned with commercial objectives.

Integrity is also essential. An in-house counsel must maintain the highest ethical standards at all times and must not be swayed by emotions or individual interests. Truthfulness and transparency should be upheld consistently, and impartiality must be avoided. This helps to maintain trust and to build a strong company reputation.

Proactiveness is another key attribute. A good in-house counsel should be quick to advise on or identify potential business issues before they escalate into major problems. This can only be achieved by staying close to business partners, aligning legal goals with company objectives, and participating in strategic discussions, thereby enabling risk to be managed even before legal issues become apparent.

Effective stakeholder management is equally important. An in-house counsel should not work in isolation but should collaborate closely with the various departments. They should be trusted and regarded as the point of reference not only during crises, but also during the initial planning stages of projects, events, or business decisions, to ensure that appropriate legal advice is provided at the right time.

Agility is critical in today’s fast-changing business environment. An in-house counsel must be able to act swiftly in unexpected situations while maintaining composure. In addition, they must think beyond purely legal considerations, place themselves in the position of business leaders, and provide strategic advice or direction as required.

Finally, strong communication skills are essential. Clear and concise communication is key to achieving effective outcomes. An in-house counsel must therefore be able to deliver legal advice clearly and confidently, and engage effectively with both internal and external stakeholders.

The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications is working to bridge the digital divide, seeing increased digitalisation throughout the country. What strategies do you employ to ensure the successful digital transformation of a legal department while maintaining compliance with Ghana’s data protection laws? 

The legal department of Unilever Ghana PLC, in partnership with all departments, commenced a Document Management Project in 2023 with the aim of enhancing productivity through easier access to documentation, as well as reducing litigation and reputational risks associated with documentation, in order to effectively defend third-party claims.

The project remains ongoing in 2025 and is being implemented in compliance with the Data Protection Act and the Unilever Ghana Data Retention Policy, which sets out the data retention periods for specific documentation relating to the various departments.

The project is being delivered through the engagement of a third-party company to provide physical archiving of Unilever’s documents, including but not limited to sorting, indexing, and storage of documentation. It also includes the development of a document management software interface, retention policy metadata, and search functions, as well as the digitisation of Unilever’s physical documents. In addition, the project involves the training of Unilever Document Management Champions on accessing and managing archives to ensure continuity, and the development of a detailed document control process to guide archive access and document control from inception to archiving, in line with data protection laws.

Given Ghana’s continued push for sustainability, what measures has your company taken to incorporate sustainability practices into its core business operations? How can general counsel contribute to driving such initiatives within the organisation?

Unilever Ghana has implemented a number of measures to incorporate sustainability into its core business operations, particularly in the areas of plastics, nature, and livelihoods.

With regard to plastics, Unilever Ghana PLC renewed its commitment to the Ghana Recycling Initiative by Private Enterprises by signing a new Memorandum of Understanding that guides the operations of the coalition. The focus of the initiative has been on advocacy and education. In this regard, Unilever Ghana PLC launched a monthly Plastics Series Campaign to educate employees on the plastics challenge in Ghana. Industry experts in plastic waste management were invited to engage with employees through informational sessions on plastic waste issues. In addition, Unilever Ghana collaborated with Toa House, a plastics recycling organisation, to visit Doryimu Methodist School, where more than 300 pupils were educated on their role in addressing plastic waste challenges in Ghana. As part of the Global Recycling Week celebrations, Unilever Ghana PLC also organised a beach clean-up exercise for employees in partnership with the Coastal Conservancy Organisation and Zoomlion, during which approximately two tonnes of plastic waste were collected from the MPS beachfront.

In relation to nature, Unilever organised a tree-planting exercise in commemoration of World Environment Day. This initiative involved employees and was aimed at promoting environmental awareness through the planting of trees on company premises.

With respect to livelihoods, over 500 retailers have been recruited and are currently undergoing training for enrolment into the Songtaa and Shakti programme to support sustainable livelihoods. Discussions have also been initiated with selected microfinance institutions to secure funding support, with the aim of expanding the programme to other parts of the country. In addition, the Transform Project was launched to support small-scale enterprises through financial assistance aimed at enhancing their business operations. Unilever Ghana also donated personal care, oral care, and home care products to more than 20 non-governmental organisations and schools.

The legal department supported these sustainability initiatives by drafting, reviewing, and advising on all memoranda of understanding, agreements, and related legal documentation to ensure full legal compliance. Ongoing legal advice was also provided to support the effective implementation of these initiatives.