About

Rachel Ofosua Martinson is a seasoned legal professional with over two decades of experience in the Ghanaian legal landscape, specializing in banking and financial law. Her distinguished career, marked by leadership roles in prominent banking institutions, has positioned her as a trusted legal advisor and a key figure in risk management, regulatory compliance, and corporate governance.

Rachel’s legal journey began in private practice, where she honed her skills in litigation, legal advisory services, and contract drafting. Her transition into the banking sector saw her take on progressively senior roles, demonstrating her exceptional ability to navigate the complexities of financial law and institutional governance.

Currently serving as Head of Legal at First National Bank Ghana, Rachel plays a pivotal role in ensuring the bank’s legal risk framework is effectively implemented. She provides strategic legal guidance to management, oversees litigation, and ensures compliance with banking regulations. Her expertise in providing solutions to complex legal problems, as well as strategies to mitigate risk has been instrumental in safeguarding the bank’s interests. Prior to this role, she served as Company Secretary at GHL Bank (now merged with First National Bank Ghana), where she was responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance, coordinating board meetings, and providing legal opinions to the board and executive management.

Her tenure at GHL Bank also included her role as Head of the Legal Department, where she facilitated loan funding negotiations with development banks, structured legal policies, and supervised collateral registrations. She was instrumental in setting up the bank’s legal department, establishing policies, and mentoring legal professionals within the institution.

Before joining GHL Bank, Rachel held key positions at Zenith Bank (Ghana) Limited, rising from Legal Officer to Head of the Legal Department. In these roles, she supervised legal teams, negotiated contracts, and provided critical legal advice on financial transactions. She played a central role in mitigating legal risks and ensuring regulatory compliance, positioning the bank as a legally sound financial institution.

Prior to this Rachel also served as a Legal Officer at Société Générale Ghana Limited, where she provided advisory services, and ensured that all banking services were adequately covered by legal agreements.

Throughout her career, Rachel has distinguished herself as a proactive leader, adept at navigating the evolving financial regulatory environment. Her ability to analyze complex legal matters, coupled with her strategic approach to risk management, has made her an invaluable asset to the banking institutions she has served.

Rachel’s extensive experience, leadership acumen, and dedication to legal excellence continue to drive her success in the industry, making her an asset wherever she finds herself. Her commitment to upholding legal integrity and fostering compliance remains at the core of her professional ethos, ensuring that the institutions she serves operate within the highest legal and ethical standards.

Rachel is a member of the International Bar Association and the Ghana Bar Association. She is currently pursuing a Master of Laws (LLM) at the University of London.