Premier Law Consult - Our Practice Areas

Extractive Resources Law

Mining ·Oil & Gas ·Minerals Regulation ·Licensing ·ASGM Formalisation

Premier Law Consult brings deep capability to the full legal lifecycle of extractive resource projects, from exploration licensing and regulatory compliance through to project finance, environmental permitting, community engagement frameworks, and dispute resolution. The team advises extractive industry clients at every stage of the value chain, with particular expertise in Ghana's regulatory environment under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), related legislation, and the evolving legal landscape of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASGM).

Sector-defining expertise:

We have advised government agencies, international mining companies, and development finance institutions on landmark transactions and regulatory reforms in Ghana's minerals sector, including matters arising under Act 703, the Minerals Commission Act, 1993 (Act 450), and associated subsidiary legislation.

Licensing & Permitting - All mineral licences - Mining leases and concession rights - Small-scale mining licences (ASGM) - Licence renewals, transfers and surrender - Water use and environmental permits Regulatory Compliance - Minerals Commission regulatory advice - Environmental Impact Assessment law - Occupational health and safety compliance - Mercury and hazardous substances law - Export control and reporting obligations - Local content and GSGDA compliance Project Finance - Offtake agreement negotiation - Royalty payment advice ASGM & Formalisation - rCOMSDEP and community mining schemes - Cooperative and association structuring - GoldBod and buyer licensing frameworks - Community development agreements Mining Agreements and Joint Ventures

We draft, review and negotiate mining agreements, mineral purchase agreements, joint venture arrangements, and technical services agreements for exploration and production entities. Our counsel encompasses government agreements, and fiscal regime negotiations with the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).

▪ JV Structuring ▪ Fiscal Regime Negotiation

Extractive Industry Dispute Resolution

Premier Law Consult represents clients in regulatory disputes, arbitral proceedings, and litigation before the courts. The firm also advises on investor-state dispute settlement.

▪ ISDS / BIT ▪ Commercial Litigation ▪ Regulatory Appeals

Oil, Gas and Petroleum Law

Our extractive resources practice extends to the upstream and midstream petroleum sector. We advise on petroleum agreements under the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, 2016 (Act 919), Participation arrangements, production sharing contract analysis, local content compliance under the Petroleum Commission Act, and energy sector regulatory matters.

▪ Petroleum Agreements ▪Local Content Compliance ▪ Production Sharing Contracts

Natural Resources Law

Land Rights ·Forestry ·Water ·Environmental Law ·Conservation

Ghana's natural resource base, spanning land, water, forests, biodiversity, and subsoil minerals, is governed by an intricate web of constitutional provisions, statutes, customary law, and international obligations. Premier Law Consult advises governments, development partners, investors, communities, and NGOs on the full spectrum of natural resources law, helping clients navigate regulatory frameworks while advancing sustainable and equitable resource governance.

Rights-based approach:

We bring a governance-centred perspective to natural resources law — advising not only on compliance but on how robust legal frameworks can be designed and deployed to create long-term value for states, investors, and communities alike.

Land & Property Rights - Stool, skin and family land transactions - Compulsory acquisition and compensation - Surface rights and access agreements - Community land rights and tenure security Forestry & Biodiversity - Timber rights and Forest Commission permits - REDD+ and carbon credit legal frameworks - Protected area management agreements - Wildlife law and conservation leases Water Resources - Water use rights and permits - Riparian rights and watercourse law - Water concession agreements - Transboundary water resource frameworks Environmental Law - Environmental Assessment Regulations - EPA permitting and compliance advisory - Climate, emissions, and carbon obligations - Environmental remediation and liability - ESG advisory and reporting frameworks Constitutional Dimensions of Resource Ownership Under Article 257 of the Constitution of Ghana, all minerals in their natural state are vested in the President on behalf of the people of Ghana. Premier Law Consult advises on the constitutional and statutory framework governing resource ownership, including the interplay between state ownership, customary land rights, and the rights of investors and local communities under the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036).

▪ Mineral Ownership ▪ Stool Lands ▪ Land Act 2020 (Act 1036) Community Rights

We advise on the legal requirements for community consultation, community development agreements (CDAs), and the rights of project-affected communities under national law and international standards, including the IFC Performance Standards, the Equator Principles, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

▪ Community Development Agreements

Corporate and Commercial Law

Company Formation ·Contracts · Governance · Regulatory Advisory · Financing

Our Corporate and Commercial practice is the engine of Premier Law Consult's transactional capability. We advise on the full range of corporate law matters, from incorporation and structuring through to complex commercial agreements, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution, serving our clients operating across Ghana and the West African sub-region.

Commercially focused counsel:

Our lawyers combine deep sector knowledge with transactional fluency, delivering commercially sound, legally precise advice in tight timeframes. Advice is practical, timely, and aligned with each client's business objectives.

Company Law (Act 992) - Incorporation and registration - Subsidiary and branch establishment - Shareholder agreement drafting - Corporate restructuring and dissolution Commercial Contracts - Negotiation and drafting of complex agreements - Distribution and agency agreements - Supply, offtake and procurement contracts Corporate Governance - Board advisory and director duties - Compliance programmes and codes of conduct - Minority shareholder protections Regulatory and Licensing Advisory

Operating in Ghana demands navigation of a complex regulatory landscape. We advise on mining sector licensing, permits, and regulatory compliance across sectors. We maintain close knowledge of the mining sector investment

▪ Mining Sector Licensing Advisory

Employment and Labour Law

We advise employers on all aspects of employment law under the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), including employment contracts, termination of employment, collective bargaining agreements. We also represent clients in proceedings before the National Labour Commission.

▪ Work Permit Applications ▪ Collective Bargaining

Mergers and Acquisitions

Deal Structuring ·Due Diligence ·Transaction Execution ·Post-Merger Integration

Premier Law Consult is a trusted adviser on domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, and strategic transactions. Whether acting for buyers, sellers, target companies, management teams, or financial advisers, the firm brings rigorous legal analysis, commercial acumen, and deep sector knowledge to every transaction, from early-stage structuring through to post-completion integration.

Integrated sector capability:

Our M&A practice is closely integrated with the firm's extractive resources and corporate teams, creating a strong platform for resource-sector M&A, mining company acquisitions, asset deals involving licence portfolios, and strategic joint ventures.

Due Diligence - Legal due diligence coordination and reporting - Title and regulatory clearance reviews - Licence and permit verification - Environmental and compliance audit - Beneficial ownership and AML screening Transaction Documents - Share purchase agreements (SPA) - Business transfer and asset sale agreements - Memoranda of understanding and term sheets - Warranties, indemnities and disclosure letters - Completion mechanics and conditions precedent Mining and Resource Sector M&A

Transactions involving mineral licences, processing plant assets, and ASGM portfolios require specialised expertise. We advise on the transfer and novation of mining leases and small-scale licences, Minerals Commission consent requirements, and the structuring of royalty streams and gold purchase agreements as part of M&A transactions in the resources sector — combining our regulatory expertise with transactional execution capability.

▪Licence Transfer ▪Minerals Commission Consent ▪ Gold Purchase Agreements

Regulatory Clearances and Competition Law

Major transactions in Ghana may require clearance from the sectoral regulators (Minerals Commission, Petroleum Commission, Bank of Ghana. We coordinate filings and manage the regulatory timetable to keep transactions on track and minimise delay.

Cross-Border and African Regional Transactions

Premier Law Consult advises on transactions with a multi-jurisdictional footprint across West Africa and beyond, coordinating with leading law firms in ECOWAS member states.

▪ ECOWAS / West Africa ▪Regional Joint Ventures

Areas of Practice

Extractive Resources Law

Natural Resources Law

Corporate and Commercial Law

Mergers and Acquisitions

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