Mr. Eric Odoi-Anim joined the Ghana Foreign Service in 1987. He is a product of Swedru and Winneba Secondary Schools, holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree (1980) from the University of Ghana, and a post-graduate Professional Law Diploma (B.L) from the Ghana Law School (1982), and a Master of Arts (M.A) in International Relations from the Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA) 1980.

In addition, Mr. Odoi-Anim holds other professional and academic qualifications from the Hague Academy of International Law, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada, Academy of Social Sciences, Sofia Bulgaria, Fourah Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone, and the Institute of World Affairs in Washington. Mr. Odoi-Anim is a writer on International Affairs for International/academic journals of law.

Since joining the Ministry, Mr. Odoi-Anim has served in the International Organisation Bureau (IOB), the Inspectorate and Audit Bureau, the Africa and AU Bureau, and the Legal and Consular Bureau which he currently heads in the capacity of Acting Director.

Mr. E. Odoi-Anim has served with Ghana's Missions in New York, Sierra Leone and Canada. He is married with three children and enjoys gardening, music and philosophy.

LEGAL ADVISORY ROLE

The Bureau provides legal advice on a wide range of issues, in both public and private international law to the Ministry and Ghana's diplomatic Missions abroad. The Bureau provides guidance in the implementation of the Vienna Conventions to diplomatic and international organisations based in Ghana.

The Bureau is responsible also for collating and preparing appropriate documentation for the ratification of international treaties to which Ghana is a party - namely, UN treaties, AU treaties, ECOWAS treaties, etc.

The Bureau has the additional responsibility of preparing legal opinions in legal suits involving the Ministry, and represent the Ministry in Court, or at quaisi-judicial bodies like CHRAJ (Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice). The Bureau provides guidance on internal matters relating to labour issues.

The Bureau represents the Ministry on the following Boards:

(i) Ghana Refugees Board;
(ii) Board of the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms;
(iii) Ad Hoc Committee on Repatriation of Ghanaians from Abroad
(iv) Committee Reviewing Bilateral Migration and Entry Requirement (Visa) Agreements.

The Bureau liaises with Sector Ministries, Agencies and Departments in reviewing or preparing agreements that evoke the international responsibility of the Government, and participates in international meetings on behalf of the Ministry/Government.

CONSULAR ROLE

In collaboration with the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ministry of Interior, the Bureau processes all requests for Residence Permits, Work Permits and Visas for diplomatic staff and their families/dependants, and handle applications for travel certificates for foreign nationals. The Bureau also handles requests for the extension of consular access to foreign nationals in Ghanaian prisons.

The Bureau processes Renunciation and Dual Citizenship requests received from our Missions abroad. In line with Government policy to support Ghanaians abroad and elsewhere, the Bureau provides a wide range of consular assistance to Ghanaians, ranging from tracing lost relatives abroad, claims for compensation for death, injury or loss of employment, burial of deceased relatives and claims thereon, to tracing culprits of fraudulent deals against Ghanaians/foreigners and monetary claims arising from commercial transactions.

The Bureau also undertakes the attestation/legalisation of documents. Requests for verification of Ghanaian documents are also handled by the Bureau.