Legal Framework

On August 27, 2010, after much debate and a public referendum, Kenya adopted a new constitution. The first general elections under the new constitution were held in March 2013, following which the country ushered in a new government structure. Under the new structure, the republic became a unitary state with a devolved governance system comprising a national government...

Kenya is at a pivotal point in its economic development, buoyed by a peaceful transition of power to a new government and the historic 50th anniversary of independence from colonial rule. Despite the turbulence occasioned by the changes to the political power structure and the country’s continuing engagement in Somalia, Kenya continues to witness significant growth and...

Over the past 10 years, the government has been pursuing policies aimed at encouraging the private sector to invest resources to provide an accelerated delivery of public infrastructure and services. The government admits it lacks the resources to bridge the gap and needs the private sector to play a major role. Accordingly, in 2011 the government adopted the National...

The country of Ghana is currently governed by the 1992 Republican Constitution of Ghana, which was approved by referendum and established the country’s multi-party democratic system. As this is Ghana’s fourth republican constitution since it gained independence in 1957, the period since it was passed is described as the country’s “Fourth Republic”.

There has been a lot of talk about whether Ghana optimally benefits from the exploitation of its natural resources. The recent oil discovery heightened this debate, with many pointing to Norway as the model Ghana should emulate. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and disturbances in Nigeria’s oilrich Niger Delta have also contributed to interest in the...