Oil and gas-rich Ghana could provide a wealth of opportunities for legal experts as it upgrades its legal and physical infrastructure, according to members of a lawyers’ trade mission.

The mission, led by the Law Society’s International Division, met Ghanaian lawyers, government and industry figures to discuss managing the country’s multi-billion-pound oil and gas reserves.

Improving transport, communications, energy supply and the capacity of Ghana’s legal profession to meet international business standards were identified as priorities.

UK delegates gave presentations on alternative dispute resolution (ADR), regulation, training, foreign investment and oil and gas field development.

Andrew Holroyd, immediate past President of the Law Society and leader of the mission, pointed to Ghana’s sustained growth in gross domestic product of more than 6% annually over the last three years. ‘This is a boom economy determined to handle its raw resources in a level-headed way,’ he said.

Building the capacity of the country’s legal profession was the subject of talks with the Ghanaian Bar Association, Holroyd said. ‘There is a mandatory 30-day ADR requirement in Ghana before disputes go to court and so, with continued development, the country is going to require more training and expertise in arbitration and mediation. Ghana will need lots more lawyers.’

Nick Prowse, energy projects partner at City firm Norton Rose, said that Ghana’s government is proceeding with ‘sensible caution’ to maximise the benefits of energy resources. ‘Our symposium on preparing the legal framework for oil and gas development was attended by 300 Ghanaians, all keen to learn from our 30 years’ experience.’

Raj Karia, corporate partner at Norton Rose, said: ‘Ghana is a functioning democracy governed by the rule of law. It has the stability to attract the billions of dollars from foreign banks – credit crisis allowing - required to open and bring on-stream oil and gas fields. Lawyers can smooth the process.’