Prof. Raymond A. Atuguba

Professor Raymond A. Atuguba is currently the Dean of the University of Ghana School of Law, where he has taught since 2002. He has been a Visiting Professor of Law and the Henry J. Steiner Visiting Professor of Human Rights at Harvard Law School (2018–2019), and has taught over 40 related courses at several universities in Africa, Europe, the United States of America, Canada, and Australia. His research interests are in constitutional and administrative law in the global south; law and development in Africa; and human rights and community lawyering.

A graduate of the University of Ghana and of Harvard Law School - where he obtained a master of laws degree and did doctoral studies, Professor Atuguba has also worked in the public sector (he was one time the Executive Secretary to the President of Ghana); the private sector (he was the Team Leader of Law and Development Associates (LADA) and Managing Partner of Atuguba and Associates); and the non-profit sector (he is co-founder and former Executive Director and former Board Chair of the Legal Resources Centre).

He has consulted for many African governments (The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zimbabwe, etc.) and major international development agencies and NGOs (The UN, UNDP, UN-OHCR, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNODC, UNMIL, The World Bank, ILO, IOM, EU, AU, ECOWAS, USAID, DFID, GIZ, DANIDA, FES, KAF, ICHRP, OXFAM, IBIS, IIED, ActionAid International, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First, CARE International, Plan International, OSI, OSIWA, etc.) and led or co-led over 50 training programmes and workshops. He has also chaired or sat on over 75 boards and committees, national and international.

 

CREDENTIALS

• EMBA- Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Accra, Ghana

• SJD- Harvard Law School, Cambridge, USA

• LLM – Harvard Law School, Cambridge, USA

• BL – Ghana School of Law, Accra, Ghana

• LLB – University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Constitutional and Administrative Law in Africa

• Policy, Law and Development in the Global South

• Human Rights and Community Organising

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

BOOKS, EDITED BOOKS, AND MONOGRAPHS

1. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2022). International Encyclopeadia of Laws, Constitutional Law – Ghana/ The New Constitutional Law of Ghana: From the Garden of Eden to 2022. Kluwer Academic Publishers and Sedco Publishers (forthcoming).
2. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2022). Institutional Continuities: The Political Economy of Policing In Ghana, 1830 To 2005 (forthcoming).
3. Dowuona-Hammond, Christine; Hammond, Ama; and Atuguba, Raymond A. (eds.), (2020). Mobilising the Law for Ghana’s Future: Appraising to Revolutionise. School of Law, University of Ghana.
4. Atuguba, Raymond A. and Ameley, Dankwa (eds.). (2008). Who is the Leader of the House of Parliament of Ghana? Accra: Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) and Legal Resources Centre, Ghana.
5. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2005). Human Trafficking in Ghana: A review of Legislation. Geneva: ILO.
6. Atuguba, Raymond A. et al. (2004). Child Maintenance in Plural Legal Systems in Ghana: Institutional and Legal Research. Access to Justice Series No. 4, Accra: Ministry of Justice, Ghana and GTZ.

 

PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES

7. Atuguba, Raymond A., (in press). ‘Over-regulation, Hyper Institutionalization and the Phenomenon of Apprenticeships in Ghana’.
8. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2022). ‘Customary Law Revivalism: Seven Phases in the Evolution of Customary Law in Sub-Saharan Africa’, McGill Journal of International Law & Legal Pluralism. 3(1).
9. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2021). ‘Tax Culture: Perspectives from an African State’, American Journal of Trade and Policy. 8(1): 25-78. doi: 10.18034/ajtp.v8i1.510.
10. Dowuona-Hammond, Christine, Atuguba, Raymond A. & Tuokuu, Francis X. D. (2020). ‘The Child Labour Quagmire in Ghana: Root Causes and Ephemeral Solutions’, Business and Human Rights Journal. Cambridge University Press, 1–7. doi: 10.1017/bhj.2020.29.
11. Atuguba, Raymond A. & Kpessa, Michael W. (2020). ‘Getting to the Roots: Constitutional Rules and the Zero- Sum Politics of Winner-Takes-All in Ghana’, Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization. 99:75-85.
12. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2020). ‘The Concept of Sovereignty in Ghanaian Constitutionalism’, International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies. 7(1): 52-82.
13. Atuguba, Raymond A. & Tuokuu, Francis X. (2020). ‘Ghana's Renewable Energy Agenda: Legislative Drafting in Search of Policy Paralysis’. Energy Research & Social Science.  64(101453).
14. Atuguba, Raymond A., Tuokuu, Francis X. D. & Gbang, Vitus (2020). ‘Statelessness in West Africa: An Assessment of Stateless Populations and Legal, Policy, and Administrative Frameworks in Ghana’. Journal on Migration and Human Security. 8(1): 14-31.
15. Dowuona-Hammond, Christine, Atuguba, Raymond A., & Tuokuu, Francis X. D. (2020). ‘Women’s Survival in Ghana: What Has Law Got to Do With It?’ SAGE Open Journal.
16. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2019). ‘Homosexuality in Ghana: Morality, Law, Human Rights’, Journal of Politics and Law. 12(4): 113-126.
17. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2016). ‘An African Redefinition of Popular Democracy and Development Nomenclature’, International Journal of Innovative Research and Development 5(10): 58-65.
18. Atuguba, Raymond A.  (2016). ‘Contemporary Constitutional Issues in our Multiparty Democracy, Review of Ghana Law 22: 66-78.
19. Kpessa, Michael W. and Atuguba, Raymond A. (2013). ‘Grounding with the People: Participatory Policy Making in the Context of Constitution Review in Ghana’, Journal of Politics and Law 6(1): 99-110.
20. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2010). ‘The Constitutional and Legal Framework for oversight of the Security Sector in Ghana: Outstanding Matters for the Ghana Police Service (GPS)’, University of Ghana Law Journal 24: 205-230.
21. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2009). ‘Public Interest Litigation: A Critical Ingredient for Effective Human Rights Activism in Africa’, WAPILC Quarterly 1(1): 7-12.
22. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2009). ‘Making International Policy: A Stern Look at Ghana’s Policies on Migration and Remittances’, Legon Journal of International Affairs 6(2): 24-49.
23. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2008). ‘Rights and the Limits of Public Interest Law: Ghana’s Reaction to a Messy World Phenomenon’, UCLA Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs 13(1): 97-128.
24. Hinson, R., Atuguba, R. A., Ofori D., & Fobil J. (2007). ‘The Internet and Lawyers in Ghana: Some Initial Qualitative Perspectives’, Library Review 56(4): 311-322.
25. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2007). ‘Democratisation and the Governance of the Security Sector in Ghana: The Case of the Ghana Police Service’, University of Ghana Law Journal 23: 129-157.
26. Kusimi, J., Fobil, J., Atuguba, R., Erawoc, I., & Oduro, F. (2006). ‘Conflicts in Northern Ghana: A Mirror of Answers to Sub-Regional Stability and Security Questions’, Asteriskos: Journal of International and Peace Studies, 1(2): 209-228.
27. Fobil, J. N., Atuguba, R. A., Ayariga, M & Dankwa, A. (2004). ‘Vehicles, Urban Economy and Urban Health in Ghana’, Ecoflash 20: 16-17.
28. Fobil, J. N. & Atuguba, R.A. (2004). ‘Ghana: Changing Urban Environmental Ills in Slum Communities’, Environmental Policy and Law 34 (4-5): 206-215.
29. Atuguba, Raymond A. (1998). ‘Libraries with Legal Materials in Ghana’, Ghana Quarterly Law Journal 10: 14-15.

 

BOOK CHAPTERS

30. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2022). ‘Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights’. In: Uwafiokun Idemudia, Francis Xavier Dery Tuokuu, & Tahiru Azaaviele Liedong (eds.) Business and Sustainable Development in Africa: Medicine or Placebo? Routledge. pp. 36-59.
31. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2021). ‘Legal Pluralism in Africa: Three Levels and Seven Types of Law’. In: Muna Ndulo & Cosmas Emeziem (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of African Law: A Historical, Political, Social, and Economic Context of Law in Africa. Routledge. pp. 17-52.
32. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2021). ‘The Fight Against Poverty and The Right to Development: The Ghana National Chapter’. In: Andenas Mads, Perelman Jeremy, Scharling, Christian (eds.) The Fight Against Poverty and the Right to Development. Springer International Publishing. pp. 145-208.
33. Atuguba, Raymond A. and Agyei-Boateng Agyenim (2020). ‘Shaping the Future of Civil Litigation in Ghana’. In: Christine Dowuona-Hammond, Ama Hammond, and Raymond A. Atuguba (eds.). Mobilising the Law for Ghana’s Future: Appraising to Revolutionise. School of Law, University of Ghana. pp. 558-593.
34. Atuguba, Raymond A.  and Asabagna, Courage (2019). ‘Ghana: Environment & Climate Change Law 2019’. In: A. Falach (ed.) The International Comparative Legal Guide to Environment & Climate Change Law 2019: A practical cross-border insight into environment and climate change law.  Global Legal Group. pp. 112-117.
35. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2016). ‘S.K.B Asante and the Half-Decade Debate on Resource Nationalism in the Developing World: A look at Ghana's Oil Resources’. In: Richard Oppong and Kissi Adjebeng (eds.) A Commitment to Law, Development and Public Policy: A Festschrift in Honour of Nana Dr SKB Asante London. Wildy, Simmonds & Hill Publishing. pp. 491-510.
36. Atuguba, Raymond A.  (2015). ‘Civil Society: The Key to Ghana’s Democratic Transformation and Consolidation’. In: Benjamin Olagboye (ed.). Civil Society and Development in West Africa. Practitioners’ Perspective pp. 69-77.
37. Sowatey, Emmanuel A. and Atuguba, Raymond A. (2014). ‘Community Policing in Accra: the complexities of local notions of (in)security and (in)justice”. In: Peter Albrecht & Helene Kyed (eds.). Policing and Politics. New York: Routledge. pp. 74 – 90.
38. Vormawor, Mawuse H. and Atuguba, Raymond A. (2014). ‘Civil Society and Constitutional Reform in Africa: A Case of Ghana’. In: Tyanai Masiya and Charles Mutasa, (eds.), Civil Society and Constitutional Reforms in Africa. Harare: Mwengo Press. pp. 58-97.
39. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2013). ‘The Right to Health in Ghana: Healthcare, Human Rights, and Politics”.  In: Stephen P. Marks, Jose M. Zuniga & Lawrence O. Gostin (eds.) Advancing the Human Right to Health. Oxford University Press. pp. 100-111.
40. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2013). ‘Equality, Non-Discrimination and Fair Distribution of the Benefits of Development’. In: Stephen P. Marks, (ed.), Realizing the Right to Development: Essays in Commemoration of 25 Years of the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Development. Geneva: United Nations Publications. pp. 109-116. Also published as: “Igualdad, no discriminación y distribución equitativa de los beneficios del desarrollo”, Realización del Derecho al Desarrollo. (Naciones Unidas).
41. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2009). ‘Customary Law: Some Critical Perspectives in Aid of the Constitution Making Process in Zimbabwe’. In: Norbert Kersting, (ed.), Constitution in Transition: Academic Inputs for a New Constitution in Zimbabwe. Harare, Zimbabwe: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. pp. 291-299.
42. Atuguba, Raymond A., Fobil, Julius N. and Sory, S. (2008). ‘Urban Environmental Initiatives: Exploring Urban Youth Potentials in Solid Waste Management in Accra, Ghana’. In: Toma V. Golush (ed.), Waste Management Research Trends. New York: Nova Publishers. pp. 339-352.
43. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2007). ‘The Rule of Law and National Security: Challenges for the Judiciary’. In: Gilbert Bluwey and Kofi Kumado (eds.), Ghana in Search of National Security Policy. Accra: Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA), University of Ghana and Ministry of Defence, Ghana. pp. 104-111.
44. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2007). ‘Ghana @ 50: Colonised and Happy’. In: H. J. A. N. Mensa-Bonsu et al. (eds.), Ghana Law Since Independence: History, Development and Prospects. Accra: Faculty of Law, University of Ghana. pp. 571-588.
45. Atuguba, Raymond A., Dowuona-Hammond, C and Fobil, Julius N. (2007). ‘Social Exclusion: The Political and Legal Dimension’. In: Nana Araba Apt, Agnes Y. Aggrey-Orleans, Cletus Dordunoo and William Ahadzie (eds.), Ghana Human Development Report 2007: Towards a More Inclusive Society. Accra: UNDP. pp. 107-141.
46. Atuguba, Raymond A.  (2006). ‘Ghana: Changing Our Inherited Police Institutions’. In: Ann Seidman, Robert B. Seidman, Pumzo Mbana and Hanson Hu Li, (eds.), Africa’s Challenge: Using Law for Good Governance and Development. Trenton, New Jersey: Africa World Press. pp. 53-77.
47. Fobil, Julius. N.  and Atuguba, Raymond A. (2004). ‘Ghana: Migration and the African Urban Complex’. In: Toyin Falola & Steven J. Salm, (eds.), Globalization and Urbanization in Africa. Trenton, New Jersey: Africa World Press. pp. 249-269.

 

PUBLISHED POLICY/TECHNICAL PAPERS 

48. Atuguba, Raymond A.  and Baah-Boateng, W. (2018).  “Women’s Economic Empowerment and the Regulatory Framework for Extractives in Ghana”. Growth in West Africa: impacts of extractive industry on women’s economic empowerment in Cote d’Ivoire & Ghana (GrOW Research Project). Working Paper No. 2. Available at http://www.interias.org.gh/sites/default/files/WP_2.pdf
49. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2016). “Ghana’s Energy Paralysis”. Global Brief, 22nd February 2016. Available at http://globalbrief.ca/blog/2016/02/22/ghana%E2%80%99s-energy-paralysis/
50. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2011). “Report of the Constitution Review Commission: From a Political to a Developmental Constitution”. Presented to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana, Professor John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday the 20th of December, 2011, Accra: Ghana Publishing Corporation.
51. Atuguba, Raymond A.  and Hammergren, L. (2010). “Uses and Users of Justice in Africa: The Case of Ghana’s Specialised Courts”. Washington DC: World Bank.
52. Atuguba, Raymond A.  et al. (2009). “The Journey of RAVI: A Report Capturing the five (5) year story of the Rights and Voice Initiative (RAVI), Department for International Development (DFID)”. Sponsored Project Co-ordinated by Action Aid International, Ghana.  Accra: RAVI.
53. Atuguba, Raymond A.  (2008). “Judicial Reforms and Judicial Reformers: Some Reflections on Ghana’s Recent Experiences”. Foreword to Tracy Smith, ‘Judicial Reform and its Impact on the Administration of Justice: Case Study Focused on Court Reforms in Accra’. CUSO International. pp. v-viii.
54. Atuguba, Raymond A.  (2007). “The Ghana Police Service (GPS): A Practical Agenda for Reform”. IEA Policy Analysis. Accra: Institute of Economic Affairs.
55. Atuguba, Raymond A. (2007). “Supporting CBOs to do Citizen-Government Engagement: A Guide for RAVI Intermediary Organisations”. Accra: Rights and Voice Initiative (RAVI). 
56. Atuguba, Raymond A.  (2005). “Ghana Developing Through Law”. IEA Policy Analysis. Accra: Institute of Economic Affairs.

 

OTHER JOURNAL

57. Atuguba, R. A. & Afari-Yeboah K. (2021) We Are All in This Together: Covid-19 as a Leveller of Humanity. Ghana School of Law Students Journal (GSLSJ), 6(1), pp 1-15.
58. Raymond A. Atuguba (2020). “What COVID-19 reveals about Ghana’s justice system and what needs to change.” The Conversation, 16th April, 2020. Available at https://theconversation.com/what-covid-19-reveals-about-ghanas-justice-system-and-what-needs-to-change-134809?utm_medium=ampemail&utm_source=email.
59. Raymond A. Atuguba (2018). “Ghana’s Justice System Needs a Major Overhaul: Here’s what should be done”. The Conversation, 4th January, 2018. Available at https://theconversation.com/ghanas-justice-system-needs-a-major-overhaul-heres-what-should-be-done-88724.
60. Atuguba, R. A. (2011). God, Human Rights, Law, Development and the Missing Link of History. African Agenda, 14(3), pp. 30-32. 
61. Atuguba, R. A. (2010). Inside Ghana’s Prisons. African Agenda, 13(5), pp. 29-32.
62. Atuguba, R. A.  (2009). Love is Dead. The Judiciary, Ed. 2. p. 19.
63. Atuguba, R. A. (2008). To Comment or Not to Comment on Judgments of the Courts of Law. The New Legon Observer, 2(12), pp. 19-23.
64. Dowuona-Hammond, C. and Atuguba, R. A. (2008). Corporate Social Responsibility in Ghana. The New Legon Observer, 2(10), pp. 15-19.
65. Atuguba, R. A.  (2008). The Colonial State Lives on: Reflections on the Colonial Character of Ghana’s Police. African Agenda, 11(2), pp.14-16.
66. Atuguba, R. A. (2008). Killing the NGO Industry in Ghana. The New Legon Observer, 2(7), pp. 11-13.               
67. Atuguba, R. A.  (2005). Money Grabbers and the Law. Legon Business Journal, 1(4), pp. 27-28.

 

PUBLISHED BOOKS AND REPORTS WHERE I AM A COUNTRY CONTRIBUTOR OR COLLABORATOR

68. Ryan Goodman & Thomas Pegram (eds.) (2012). Human Rights, State Compliance, and Social Change: Assessing National Human Rights Institutions. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.
69. Lucie White and Jeremy Perelman (eds.) (2011). Stones of Hope: How African Activists Reclaim Human Rights to Challenge Global Poverty. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
70. ActionAid International. (2008). Unjust Waters: Climate Change, Flooding and the Urban Poor in Africa.
71. Action Aid International (2006). Unjust Waters: Climate Change, Flooding and the Protection of Poor Urban Communities: Experiences from Six African Cities.
72. Eve Lester (2005). Work, The Right to Work, and Durable Solutions: A study of Sierra Leonean Refugees in The Gambia. International Journal of Refugee Law, 17(2), 331-393.

 

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

70. Raymond A. Atuguba (2016). “Do not pass the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill”, Daily Graphic, 27th July 2016, pp. 45.
71. Raymond A. Atuguba (2016). “Court Can’t Order Automatic Deletion of Names”, The Informer, 27th June 2016, pp. 2 and 5.
72. Raymond A. Atuguba (2016). “The Supreme Court finally speaks on the Abu Ramadan case”, Daily Graphic, 8th July 2016, pp. 34 and 35.
73. Raymond A. Atuguba (2016). “What are the eleven (11) meanings of what the Supreme Court said in the Abu Ramadan case last week?”, The Al-Hajj, 28^th June 2016, pp. 2, 4, 5 and 21.
74. Raymond A. Atuguba (2016). “Of Judges and Public Statements and Public Comments (I and II)”, Daily Graphic, 6^th June 2016. pp. 55 and June 8, 2016. pp. 36; also published in The Daily Dispatch, June 7, 2016. pp. 2 and 11 and 8, 2016. pp. 4; and The Al-Hajj under the heading “Dr. Atuguba Schools Judges, Lawyers & Commentators”, 7^th June 7, 2016. pp. 2 and 5; and The Informer under the title “In the Matter of Abu Ramadan, EC…. Justice Dotse Faces Sanction Over Breach of Code of Conduct”, 8^th June 2016. pp. 3 and 5.
75. Raymond A. Atuguba (2016). “The Supreme Court, the Register of Voters, and National Health Insurance (NHI) I.D. Cards, Feature Article”, Daily Graphic, 24^th May 2016.
76. Raymond A. Atuguba (1996). “Ignorance of the Law”, The Catholic Standard, May 1996. pp. 5.
77. Raymond A. Atuguba (1996). “The fool sayeth unto himself…”, The Catholic Standard, April 28-May 4, 1996.  pp. 5.
78. Raymond A. Atuguba (1996). “The Road To ‘96”, The Catholic Standard, March 24-30, 1996.
79. Raymond A. Atuguba (1996). “The Road To ’96 (II)”, The Catholic Standard, April 21-27, 1996. pp. 3. 

 

UNPUBLISHED WORKS

Dissertations and Theses

80. Raymond A. Atuguba, (2014). “Business Plan for the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Constitution Review Commission”. Submitted as part of requirements for the Executive Masters in Business Administration Degree to the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, June 2014.
81. Raymond A. Atuguba, (2004). “Institutional Continuities: The Police in the Regulation of Public Order and Alcohol in Ghana”. Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) Degree to the Law School of Harvard University, June 2004.
82. Raymond A. Atuguba, (2000).  “Human Rights Activism in Ghana: Reality, Apparitions, and Dreams”. Master of Laws (LL.M.) Paper, Harvard Law School, Harvard University, Cambridge MA, June 2000.
83. Raymond A. Atuguba, (1997). “Retention versus Abolition: A look at the Death Penalty in Ghana”. Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) Dissertation, Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon, June 1997.

 

Interfaculty Lectures

84. Raymond A. Atuguba, (2009). “Ebi Constitution we go Chop: An Examination of Article 1(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana”. Interfaculty Lecture Delivered at the K.A. Busia Hall, University of Ghana, 5th February 2009.
85. Raymond A. Atuguba, (2005). “Abochie, Where is my Police? The Police Force and the Political Economy of Ghana”. Interfaculty Lecture Delivered at the Great Hall, University of Ghana, 17th February 2005.

 

Course Compilations

86. Raymond A. Atuguba, Fui S. Tsikata, and Elizabeth Addabor, Materials for Natural Resources Law II, Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, (2001-2003).
87. Raymond A. Atuguba and Fui S. Tsikata, Materials for Natural Resources Law I, Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, (1999-2000).
88. Raymond A. Atuguba and Fui S. Tsikata, Material on Ghana Legal System Volume I, Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, (October, 1998).
89. Raymond A. Atuguba and Fui S. Tsikata, Delegated Powers/Legislation, Material on Administrative Law, Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, (1996-1997).