Ghanaian Market Exploration by TEMPLARS Amid Growing Opportunities
In a tactical move to bolster its standing across Africa, top Nigerian law firm TEMPLARS has teamed up with Ghanaian law practice AMPEM Chambers, leading to the creation of a new legal firm in Ghana named TEMPLARS. This collaboration aims to capitalize on Ghana's booming business potential and the increasing need for service providers well-versed in local complexities and adept at guiding foreign clients through complex markets.
With the development, the new law firm plans to offer services across various sectors of the Ghanaian economy, including mining, energy, infrastructure, financial services, education, franchising, telecommunications, fintech, and dispute resolution. Additionally, it serves as a stepping stone for reaching other crucial West African centers.
In a conversation, Templars' managing partner, Oghogho Akpata, expressed excitement about this expansion, stating, "This is a significant step in Templars' growth across Africa." Akpata elaborated on the vast potentials presented by the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, emphasizing the growing demand for skilled professionals and the expected growth of opportunities for businesses.
The collaboration will see the addition of a 12-member team of highly skilled Ghanaian attorneys, several of whom are dual-certified in jurisdictions such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and more, to the TEMPLARS roster. These attorneys will collaborate closely with their colleagues in TEMPLARS' offices in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja to deliver top-notch services in both markets.
While both Nigeria (with Africa's largest economy) and Ghana (West Africa's second-largest economy) have faced recent economic challenges, Akpata sees considerable opportunities, particularly in the mining and energy sectors. He views Ghana as an under-tapped destination for international and regional law firms, given its growth as an economic powerhouse and preferred site for African and foreign companies alike.
The AfCFTA Secretariat's location in Accra, Ghana, positions the country to become to the region what Brussels is to Europe as a competition law hub, according to Akpata. As a result, he believes that any serious law practice aiming to engage in Africa-focused business should establish a presence in Ghana.
The strategic alliance between TEMPLARS and AMPEM Chambers not only expands TEMPLARS' geographical reach but also strengthens its capability to offer high-quality legal services across a broader area. This union capitalizes on the economic growth and opportunities unfolding in West Africa.
- The new legal firm, TEMPLARS, intends to extend its services across multiple sectors of the Ghanaian economy, such as mining, energy, infrastructure, financial services, education, franchising, telecommunications, fintech, and dispute resolution.
- Akpata, managing partner of TEMPLARS, believes that the growing demand for skilled professionals and the expected growth of business opportunities in Africa, particularly due to the AfCFTA agreement, underscores the necessity for a presence in Ghana.
- In light of this expansion, a 12-member team of highly skilled Ghanaian attorneys, many of whom are dual-certified in multiple jurisdictions, will join TEMPLARS' existing team in Nigeria, working together to deliver top-notch services in both markets.
- Acknowledging the strategic importance of Ghana as an economic powerhouse and preferred site for African and foreign companies, Akpata suggests that Ghana can serve as a regional competition law hub similar to Brussels in Europe.
- Akpata is confident that this collaboration will bolster TEMPLARS' geographical reach and its capacity to offer high-quality legal services across a broader area, capitalizing on the economic growth and opportunities in West Africa.
- The partnership between TEMPLARS and AMPEM Chambers is anticipated to generate significant growth for both firms, potentially paving the way for further collaborations and expansions in the future.
