About

Vitus Ngaanuma is a Lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Law, a Lawyer, and a doctoral candidate at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, where he is an Allard Scholar Graduate Fellow. His research interests are centered on the role of law and legal institutions in promoting economic, social, and political development in the Global South, and the role of the Global North in these dynamics. His primary research and teaching interests are Natural Resources Law, International Law, Constitutional Law, and Law and Development. His doctoral research studies parliamentary ratification of natural resource agreements in sub-Saharan Africa within the context of the related theories of Post-colonialism, Third World Approaches to International Law, and Constitutionalism.

Before his doctoral studies, he graduated with a thesis-based Master of Laws degree specializing in Natural resources, Energy, and Environmental law from the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where he was awarded the Hon. N.D McDermid, and the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law Scholarships for academic merit. He also holds three degrees from the University of Ghana including a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Master of Arts in International Affairs, and Bachelor of Laws.

Prior to his journey with the law, Vitus had a decade-long practical expertise in the interface between mining law and community development. He worked in the sustainability side of mining and metals, working as a Community Relations Manager for Azumah Resources Ghana Limited; in the public service of Ghana as Executive Associate to the CEO of Northern Development Authority, an affirmative action-oriented special purpose government organization; and with local NGOs in Northern Ghana, managing community-based projects.

Presently, Vitus consults for companies in the extractive industry, offering expert guidance on a wide spectrum of sustainability, community relations, and compliance matters related to the industry’s global governance norms, such as the VPs on Security and Human Rights, UNGPs on Operational-level grievance mechanisms, IPIECA, IFC, and ICMM principles. He is a member of the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law and serves on its Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Credentials

• PhD Candidate, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
• LLM (Thesis Option)- Faculty of Law, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• QCL/BL- Ghana School of Law, Accra, Ghana
• LLB- School of Law, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
• MA- University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
• BA- University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

Areas of Expertise

• Natural Resources Law
• International Law
• Law & Development
• Constitutional Law

Publications

 Vitus Ngaanuma “The Constitutionality of Nominal Trusteeship in Regalian Mineral Ownership Regime in Ghana” (2021) 39:1 Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law 83-104. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646811.2020.1794102

Theses & Dissertations

Ngaanuma, V., Guaranteeing The ‘Sovereignty in the People’ Principle: Parliamentary Ratification of Natural Resource Agreements in Sub-Saharan Africa (Ongoing-Doctoral dissertation, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada).

Ngaanuma, V., An Examination of the Regalian Mineral Ownership Regime and its Implications for Public Participation in the Mineral Rights Decision-making Process in Ghana (Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Master of Laws, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, August 2021).

Ngaanuma, V., The Volta River in Ghana-Burkina Faso Relations (Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, University of Ghana, December 2010).

Ngaanuma, V., The National Commission for Civic Education and Democratic Development in Ghana: A Performance Appraisal (Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts, University of Ghana, May 2006).

Conference/Seminar Presentations:

“The Regalian Mineral Ownership Regime and its Implications for Public Participation in the Mineral Rights Decision-making Process in Ghana”, Presented at the Faculty of Law, the University of Calgary Summer Research Seminar.