In an interview with Globetrotters Legal’s Paa Kwesi Hagan, he turns the spotlight on his responsibility for the firms’ corporate immigration and compliance department, and how they are positioning themselves to be the firm of choice for companies doing business on the African continent.
First of all, can you tell us about what your company does? Globetrotters Legal is a corporate immigration firm headquartered in Ghana with a network of affiliates in various African countries. The firm provides bespoke corporate immigration services to multinational companies operating in Ghana by providing them with tailored solutions to meet their immigration needs. Particularly, we assist with work authorisation, document procurement and legalisation services and provide up to date opinions on immigration law and changes as they occur and assist with immigration audits for companies too.
How long has the firm been going for and where are your offices based The firm has been in existence since 2011 and has progressively risen to become the go-to corporate immigration firm in Ghana. With offices in Senegal and a network of partners in various African countries, we are able deliver professional services to all these regions.
What is your own role in the company as a corporate immigration advisor? What areas do you specialise in? As the managing partner of Globetrotters Legal, I am responsible for the corporate immigration and compliance department of the firm, I oversee all aspect of immigration and compliance and also have responsibility to manage our government relations unit. I have been recognised by Who’s Who Legal as a leading corporate immigration expert in Ghana as well as being a regular speaker at various conference on Ghanaian immigration matters.
Furthermore, I am responsible for managing client relationships, generating new business, speaking at conferences and contribution to various publications. I am also responsible for training of the staff on various matters including confidentiality, data protection, anti-bribery and anti-corruption.
From lawyers, accountants, bankers and consultants to HR professionals, IT specialists and security experts, myriad outside agencies and organisations, to what extent do such advisers contribute massively to a company’s success? The above-named persons play a significant role in the success of Globetrotters Legal’s operations and these are critical agencies which drive any serious business. We have a team of lawyers in the firm specialising in various aspects of law. The accountants ensure that our books are kept in the timely manner required by law – and our IT professionals provide us with the technology and software to manage the work of our Immigration department.
What kind of clients do you serve and how do you approach them? Globetrotters Legal’s main clientele are multinational companies in various sectors including the oil and gas, IT, power generation, healthcare, security, logistics and freight forwarding, electronics, beverages and manufacturing sectors. There are various ways that our clients have been approached. We have directly engaged with clients and others have been referred to us by existing and indeed satisfied clients.
What role do staff play in the success of your firm? The staff at Globetrotters Legal are the backbone of the success of Globetrotters Legal. They possess in-depth knowledge of the business, immigration landscape as well as the drive to satisfy each client of the firm. The firm is made up of lawyers, immigration consultants, a knowledge team and compliance consultants. The staff advise clients on immigration matters and proceed to process applications once the client has made initiations. They normally communicate with the client every step of the way by providing accurate information and status of cases filed.
Do you have any plans for the future that you would like to share with our readers? How long has the firm been going for and where are your offices based. Globetrotters Legal’s goal is to have a presence all over Africa and provide world class services in all the regions in which we operate. We at Globetrotters Legal are driven to provide excellent client care to meet international standards and are poised to change western perception about the uncertainty of service delivery by African firms. We comply fully with the dictates of the FCPA and Anti Bribery laws of the UK and protect our clients against its prohibitions. We are currently in Ghana and Senegal and have been operational since 2011.
Do you have any further comments to make? With the forecasted growth in Africa and the accompanying business that follow such growth, Globetrotters Legal is positioning itself further to be the firm of choice for companies doing business on the African continent. We help our clients navigate the immigration requirements in all the countries in which we operate, helping the client to concentrate on their core business. We provide a peace of mind because our clients are protected from pitfalls such as the FCPA and other anti-corruption legislation.
Company: Globetrotters Legal
Name: Paa Kwesi Hagan
Email: paakwesi@ gtlegalafrica.com
Web: www.gtlegalafrica.com
Address: No. 8 Adembra Road, East Cantonments, Accra
Phone: +233 (0) 302 789 497
