Vitus Ngaanuma

Vitus is a doctoral student at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, and an Allard Scholar Graduate Fellowship Awardee. His research interests are Comparative constitutional law, Constitutionalism, Natural resources governance and sustainability, and Global governance and transnational law. His doctoral research examines the efficiency of parliamentary oversight over natural resource contracts in sub-Saharan Africa within the context of the theories of good governance and institutionalism. 

Before Allard, he graduated with a Master of Laws degree specializing in Natural resources, Energy and Environmental law from the university of Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Hon.  N.D McDermid and Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law Scholar), and 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. He was called to the Ghanaian Bar in 2018.

Before embarking on his journey with the law, Vitus worked in the sustainability side of mining and metals, working as a Community Relations Manager for Azumah Resources Ghana Limited for five years; three years in the public service of Ghana working as Executive Associate to the CEO of Northern Development Authority, an affirmative action oriented special purpose government organization; and two years with local NGOs in Northern Ghana, managing community-based projects. 

Vitus loves to volunteer and currently volunteers as Director for International affairs for Los Abuelos Foundation, a west Africa focused not-for-profit volunteer organization which advocates for and promotes the welfare and rights of the aged; serves as the only student member of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force of the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law and served on the Faculty Council of the Allard school of Law from 2021-2022.

Supervisor: Prof. Jie Cheng

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

Presentations:

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