Welcome Message from the Programme Coordinator
Welcome to the Master of Arts in Natural Resources and Climate Change Law at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA). This programme represents a landmark in postgraduate legal education in Ghana — one that meets an urgent and growing demand for specialised expertise at the intersection of environmental law, natural resources governance, and climate change policy.
Ghana’s economy is inextricably linked to its natural resources, and the global urgency of climate change demands legal professionals who can navigate complex international frameworks and shape robust national policy. Over the course of this one-year programme, you will engage deeply with the legal and regulatory architecture governing fisheries, mining, forestry, water resources, and energy, while developing a nuanced understanding of climate change law from the UN Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement to Ghana’s own Nationally Determined Contributions. I warmly welcome you to this community of scholars and practitioners, and look forward to supporting your journey.
Philosophy of the Programme
The MA in Natural Resources and Climate Change Law is grounded in the conviction that law is one of the most powerful instruments for addressing the twin challenges of sustainable resource governance and climate change mitigation. The programme is structured to produce graduates equipped with in-depth knowledge of the global architecture and political economy of the international regime on natural resources and climate change law.
The programme adopts a critical interdisciplinary approach, examining the principles and instruments of international climate change law and policy — including cap-and-trade schemes, carbon taxation, command-and-control regulation, and voluntary action — alongside national frameworks. It pays particular attention to the Ghanaian legal and policy context, interrogating how international obligations have shaped domestic legislative reforms such as the Renewable Energy Act, forestry policy, and climate adaptation strategies. Students develop the analytical and advocacy skills needed to contribute meaningfully to legal scholarship, public policy, sustainable development, and climate justice.
Programme Objectives
The programme is designed to:
- Develop students’ ability to think critically, conduct independent research, and apply analytical skills to assess and respond to challenges in natural resources governance and climate change.
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the legal and policy frameworks governing fisheries, mining, forestry, water resources, and energy in Ghana.
- Analyse key legal and policy developments related to environmental degradation, pollution, labour, and human rights across multiple sectors.
- Evaluate how natural resource regulation aligns with the principles and goals of sustainable development.
- Apply legal and policy knowledge to interpret climate change frameworks in Ghana and assess their relationship with global natural resource governance.
- Explain the basic concepts and principles of dispute settlement mechanisms and assess the role and relevance of dispute resolution clauses in international investment agreements.
- Examine the interlinkages between normative and substantive developments in law and policy relating to the global and national use of natural resources and climate change.
- Interpret and apply foundational principles and concepts related to the conservation and use of natural resources at both international and national levels.
Programme Learning Outcomes
At the end of this programme, students will be able to:
- Develop an understanding of the interaction of national and international laws in shaping policy and regulatory responses to emerging global problems associated with the use of natural resources and climate change, with particular reference to Ghanaian legal and policy frameworks.
- Understand the theoretical and practical underpinnings of global natural resources law and climate change law, while appreciating how these ideas are shaped and applied within national legal systems, especially Ghana’s.
- Gain knowledge of the variety of regulatory techniques applied or proposed to address climate change, and compare the efficacy and characteristics of these techniques, including those adopted under Ghanaian law.
- Understand the role and function of international and national legal institutions in the management of climate change and the global use of natural resources, with emphasis on Ghanaian institutions and legal mechanisms.
- Develop a critical awareness of climate change issues and how the global use and mismanagement of natural resources impact climate change, examining how national legal responses — particularly in Ghana — address these issues.
- Understand the legal principles governing the use, ownership, and control of natural resources and how these principles apply within the Ghanaian context.
- Develop the ability to communicate clearly and effectively on the legal, policy, and regulatory complexities surrounding climate change and natural resources.
Programme Structure
The MA in Natural Resources and Climate Change Law is a one-year programme comprising two semesters of core coursework, elective specialisation, a seminar, and a dissertation. Total credits for graduation: 42. Courses only — see the programme handbook for full course synopses.
Programme Coordinator’s Profile
Dr. Eugene Oninku ESQ. is the Programme Coordinator for the MA in Natural Resources and Climate Change Law at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Law School.
Eugene Oninku is an active and pivotal member of the Law School. Since joining the School in 2018, he has held positions of responsibility and remained engaged with matters affecting student life in the school. In addition to these positions, Mr. Oninku is the Associate Editor of the UPSA African, International and Comparative Law Journal. He holds a Master of Laws (LLM) Degree from Staffordshire University. He has taught a broad range of courses at the undergraduate level including Administrative law, Intellectual Property Law, Law of Contract, Legal Aspects of Business (Business Law) and Company and Partnership law. Mr. Oninku has been called to the Ghanaian Bar and is qualified to practise under Ghanaian law.
Contact the Coordinator via email: [email protected]
