About

Clara is a distinguished lawyer, consultant, and academic with extensive practice experience drawn from a multidisciplinary background. She currently serves as a Lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Law and was a Visiting Fellow at Harvard Law School in 2024. Clara's academic research focuses on three key areas: Public Law (with emphasis on migration and climate change, tax law, clinical legal studies, institutional assessment and legal frameworks), Corporate Law and Finance, and Alternative Dispute Resolution. She has consulted in these areas nationally and internationally.  

Clara also generously dedicates her time and expertise to advancing social justice and fairness. She serves in multiple capacities within civil society and public institutions, including as:

- Vice Chairperson, Centre for Democratic Development (CDD Ghana) Board of Governors
- Vice-Chairperson, Network of Legal Experts on Migration in West and Central Africa
- Member, General Legal Council
- Board Member, Securities and Exchange Commission

Her previous roles include Chairperson of the Constitution Review Consultative Committee (CRCC 2023), member of Ghana's Multi-Stakeholder Working Group on the Human Rights Council, member of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee, where she chaired the Legal Sub-Committee and Board member, NORSAAC.

Clara's diverse expertise spans academia, consultancy, research, civil society advocacy, and institutional governance, making her a uniquely skilled professional.

Clara has authored notable research papers on diverse topics. Notably, she contributed significantly to the review of the Continental and Regional Migration Training Manual for Africa (2024), developed by IOM UN Migration. This comprehensive manual elucidates the international legal framework governing migration, encompassing various branches of international law, state competences and obligations, migrant rights and  duties, and international cooperation on migration. It provides an exhaustive examination of the legal aspects of international migration, including migrant rights, access to justice, and climate change implications.

Furthermore, Clara served as a Facilitator for the 1st International and Regional Migration Law Training for Africa, hosted by the IOM African Capacity Building Centre (ACBC) in Moshi, United Republic of Tanzania, from September 9-13, 2024. This training program was designed for senior officials from IOM Member States in Africa involved in migration policy and law formulation, implementation, or direct work with migrants. Clara developed and facilitated several sessions, contributing to the course's objective of providing a comprehensive overview of continental and regional migration frameworks complementing international standards.

As Chairperson of the Constitution Review Consultative Committee (CRCC 2023), Clara headed the second major state-led initiative to review Ghana's 1992 Constitution. Under her leadership, the Committee revitalized national discourse on constitutional reform, yielding substantive recommendations. The Committee's comprehensive report was presented by H.E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as part of his transition briefing to H.E. President John Mahama. Subsequently, President Mahama's administration has incorporated the report into the foundational work of the newly established Constitutional Review Committee (CRC 2025), furthering efforts towards constitutional reform

Clara recently conceptualized a field research-intensive programme aimed at advancing legal education, leveraging interdisciplinary research skills to address farmers' rights. This innovative concept forged a partnership between Harvard Law School and the University of Ghana School of Law, culminating in the establishment of the Agriculture Justice Clinic programme. The programme brought together lecturers and students from Harvard Law School and the University of Ghana School of Law, fostering collaborative learning and practical skills development.

Clara was a member of the University of Ghana Statutes Review Committee that led the review of the University of Ghana Statutes, which culminated in the passing of the Revised University of Ghana Statutes in 2024 to align with the laws of Ghana, current and emerging national and institutional policies and processes, enhance gender inclusivity and promote good governance among other things.

As Chairperson of the Legal Sub-committee of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee, Clara led the revision of the PIAC Rules of Procedure to align with the Constitution, national law, policy and good governance. This culminated in the passing of the PIAC revised Rules of Procedure, 2023.

Additionally, Clara was part of an independent consulting team that advised on the Financial Analysis and Institutional Assessment of Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (ESDA) in Sierra Leone, contributing to significant reforms of the state-owned entity.

She also collaborated with the Private Enterprise Federation and Ghana Integrity Initiative, engaging private and public sector stakeholders on policy reforms and drafting service delivery charters for approximately 10 state entities.

A distinguished academic, Clara graduated top of her class, receiving the prestigious John Mensah Sarbah Prize for best overall graduating lawyer and best student in law of taxation (2009). She was selected as a role model by Campaign for Female Education (Camfed) for their Career and Entrepreneurship Fair (2010).

Clara has held leadership roles, including Chairperson of the Student Representative Council (SRC) Judicial Committee, Ghana School of Law; Chairperson, Volta Hall Seminar Committee; and Justice, Legon SRC Court of Justice.

She is a member of the Research/Dissemination Network on Canada's Rights Role in Sub-Saharan Africa (CARRISSA), an international research team exploring Canadian-African engagements in human rights. Clara's multifaceted expertise and leadership have driven impactful reform projects nationally and internationally.

Credentials

• PhD in Law, 2025 (University of Ghana, Legon)
• Master of Laws, (L.L.M in Alternative Dispute Resolution), 2015
• Call to the Ghana Bar 2009  (Ghana School of Law)
• Q.C.L. 2009, (Ghana School of Law)
• L.L.B. 2007, (University of Ghana, Legon)
• B.A. (Hons.) Philosophy with English 2004, (University of Ghana, Legon)
• Certificate, Trainer of Trainers (2019), West African Management Development Institute, Lagos (WAMDEVIN)  
• SSSCE, Bolgatanga Girls Secondary School 

Areas of Expertise

• Business Law
• Law of Taxation
• Immovable Property Law

Publications

Clara has authored the following articles: 

1. Kasser-Tee, Clara Kowlaga (2026), Clinical Legal Education in Ghana: A Vision and a Roadmap, Journal of Legal Clinic Francophone Network Vol. 8, 2025.

2. Kasser-Tee, Clara Kowlaga (2025). Migration Detention Case study: GHANA. Analyzing Migrant Detention Legal Frameworks. IOM UN Migration, 40-51.  

3. Kasser-Tee, C.K.B (2020). The role of women in the fight against corruption in Ghana. Development in Practice, 1-7. 

4. Kasser-Tee, C. K. B. (2017) Mediation in Ghana: A critical examination of how Act 798 seeks to improve Mediation and the Mediation Process in Ghana’, GIMPA Law Review, 2. 

5.This is a research paper with recommendations for the review of the Social Protection Bill, 2020. It is also to support Civil Society on their engagements with relevant stakeholders on Social Protection. I solely authored this policy brief.  

6.Kasser-Tee C. B. (2016) ‘Tax Assessment, Tax Disputes and Mediation: Making it easier for the Taxpayer and the Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority’. Modern Ghana. 7 August 2016. (First serialised in the Business & Financial Times in Ghana). Available at https://www.modernghana.com/news/709807/taxassessment-tax-disputesand-mediation-making-it-easier.html 

7. Kasser-Tee, C. K. B. & Akyea, T. (2020). Citizenship-based Taxation: Outrageous or Broadening the Tax base? A Ghanaian Perspective. GIMPA Law Review, Issue 5. 

8. Kasser-Tee, C. K. B. (2020). Understanding, Preventing and Fighting Administrative 
Corruption in the Business Registration Regime in Ghana. Business Law Review, 41(4) 

9. Policy Brief to Support Civil Society Engagement on Social Protection in Ghana. 

10. Kasser-Tee, C. K. B. (2020). Research Report on the Cost of Administrative Corruption. 
Private Enterprise Federation. 

11.Kasser-Tee, C. K. B. (2020) Research Report on Cross Sectoral Licensing Requirement. 
Private Enterprise Federation. 

12. Kasser-Tee, C. K. B. (2019) Rethinking our Mindset and Toolkit for our Anti-Graft Campaign: 
A Case for an Independent EOCO, The Anti-Corruption Newsletter, Vol. 1. 

13. Kasser-Tee, C.K.B. Section 3 of PNDCL 84 and Environmental Regulation of Petroleum Upstream Activities. (Accra:  Business & Financial Times, September 12, 2011, page 17). Available online at: at: Section 3 of PNDCL 84 & env'tal regulation of oil exploration | Feature. 

14. Kasser-Tee, C.K.B. Cost of Corruption and Overregulation in the Business Registration Regime in Ghana. (Accra:  Business & Financial Times, June 9, 2021, page 20). 

15. Member, the University of Ghana Statutes Review Committee  

16. Member, the University of Ghana College of Humanities Scientific Renaissance of Africa, (DSRA) Day Celebrations Committee, among many other things. 

17. Member, Radio Univers Board. 
 

In addition, Clara has presented thought provoking papers nationally and internationally, including the following: 

• Speaker of the 8th Parliament of Ghana Seminal Lecture Series, hosted at Ghana’s International Conference Centre, on May 31, 2022 
  (Clara presented the paper “A proposal to the Supreme Court on managing the fine balance between its mandate under the 1992 while respecting the doctrine of separation of powers).  
• Speaker at the National Commission on Civic Education, (NCCE) Seminar, May 10, 2022 hosted in Accra at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences on the relevance of the 1992 Constitution and 30 years of Constitutional Democratic trajectory.
• Trained Women in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Ghana on Mediation as an ADR mechanism for the resolution of disputes.
• Speaker at the National Christian Forum (NCF) 2022 – Ghana.
• Speaker, Bolgatanga Youth Empowerment Programme, 2024 (organised by Little Feet Foundation.