Legal Manager - Ghana

Job Purpose

The Legal Head will manage all legal, compliance and governance matters involving ofi affiliates in Ghana, without limitation. This job specification is for a Legal Head in Ghana. However, for the right candidate, a broader scope of Legal Head, West Africa may be considered. The position reports to the Head of Group Legal & General Counsel, Europe & Africa, based in London

Key Responsibilities

Legal
•    Providing legal guidance and assistance to operational teams in their business decision making process with the purpose of achieving their business objectives safely or at least with full knowledge of the context and potential risks,
•    Monitoring and Ensuring compliance with the company’s operations with all relevant laws and regulations,
•    Negotiating, drafting and monitoring the execution of all the contracts involving ofi’s affiliates,
•    Managing insurance and monitoring compensation procedures for claims that may affect ofi.
•    Working with the General Counsel, Europe & Africa and global legal, compliance and company secretary teams to help create and implement policies and controls locally, in response to globally applicable legal regimes, particularly across intellectual property, supply chain, sustainability, competition law, and contracting.

Corporate Secretariat
•    Organizing and minuting board of directors and shareholders meetings of ofi’s affiliates, 
•    Accomplishing in due time all subsequent relating formalities.

Pre-litigation and Litigation 
•    Defining the strategy for managing threatened and/or actual claims,
•    Management of external law firms, and related costs,
•    Performing litigation reports and communicating them to the relevant stakeholders

Compliance Management
•    Advising the business on compliance matters,
•    Raising awareness and upgrading compliance skills of the business through regular communication and training in accordance with ofi’s Group compliance program,
•    Supervising and/or participating in local investigations.,

Legal & regulatory watch- Diffusion of legal culture 
•    Identifying and reporting on any gaps or weaknesses in ofi’s internal processes, controls or procedural breaches which could impact on ofi’s activities, participating in solving and monitoring these weaknesses,
•    Improving teams’ awareness of legal matters

Others 
•    Contribution towards Initiatives aimed at reducing costs,
•    Work with legal, compliance and company secretarial (LCCS) colleagues in other African countries to ensure a consistent Africa-wide approach,
•    Support provided to LCCS global teams. 

Qualifications and Experience

•    Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) and qualified to practice law in the jurisdiction of Ghana 
•    At least  5-10 years of legal experience, with a strong background in commodity trading, food, or agriculture industries.
•    Proficiency in English (written and spoken) is essential, French is an added advantage.
•    In-depth knowledge of the regulatory environments for food safety, commodity trading, and supply chain operations in Ghana.
•    Proven experience in contract negotiation, compliance management, and dispute resolution.

Key Competencies

•    Strong knowledge of commodity trading laws, international trade agreements, and agricultural regulations.
•    Exceptional contract drafting and negotiation skills.
•    Ability to handle cross-border transactions and manage regulatory complexities.
•    Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills.
•    High ethical standards and integrity, with a focus on sustainable and responsible business practices.
•    Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to provide practical solutions to legal challenges.