Whoswhos2020

101

Confident, versatile and ambitious – are Officer (CEO). From 2008 till 2017 when she
three qualities that aptly describe the resigned her post, Lucy spearheaded operations
high flying life of Lucy Quist, one of of the telecom’s giant, making it one of the
the most recognized feminine faces in Ghana’s most recognized and competitive brands in the
corporate space. She writes, she leads, she country.
manages – she is the proverbial jack of all trades.
Lucy, born in the United Kingdom some 46 years They say fate sometimes drives man in a cyclical
ago to Peter Afriyie and his wife Mary, has had loop of good tidings and it seems Lucy’s fate is
one of the most exemplary careers of any woman meant to be in leading rather than following.
from this side of the planet. Lucy fits this descriptor - she has recently been
appointed the Managing Director and Head of
Lucy had her early education in the UK and Change Leadership at Morgan Stanley, a leading
proceeded to Ghana for her secondary education multinational investment bank headquartered in
at the prestigious Wesley Girls High School in New York.
Cape Coast. She returned to the United Kingdom
for her first degree where she graduated with first A distinguishing career birthed in hard work
class in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, a and perseverance always thrusts one into the
remarkable feat by a Ghanaian woman. limelight and public service. Lucy’s recognition is
not only in the numerous awards she has bagged
And it seems the successes chalked in her during her career, but it has also come in the
educational pursuits were no mere fluke but number of boards she has served on and public
actually meant to set her on a brilliant career services she has been called to undertake.
path, which can be used as a barometer for
measuring the success of anyone. She was until recently, a member of the FIFA
appointed Normalization Committee for Football
Clothed with copious amounts of confidence and Administration in Ghana. She serves on a litany
a degree that would be the envy of every man, of boards including the Industry Advisory Board
Lucy was recruited by Ford Motor Company of for Ashesi University, Petra Trust Company Ltd,
the United States where she began her career. the International Board for African Institute for
She went on from Ford to venture into banking, Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) and Obaatan Pa
starting off with a stint at the Royal Bank of Women’s Hospital among others.
Scotland as a change manager.
Lucy is without doubt the quintessential
From the banking arena, Lucy branched into personification of an accomplished individual,
telecommunications, starting her telecom career even at her tender ‘age’ and her feat sets a bar
at Milicom Ghana Ltd, operators of the then Tigo that most women must strive to reach.
network. She then moved on to Vodafone Ghana
before capping a surprisingly illustrious telecoms
career for an electrical engineer, with a position
at the now AirtelTigo as its Chief Executive

102

MAWUENA
ADZO TREBARH

WHO'S WHO 2019

103

Mawuena Adzo Trebarh is currently the she at MTN that she virtually became the standard
founder and Chief Business Strategist for corporate communication excellence in the
at Inspire Africa Consult and a country, providing leadership and inspiration for
consummate business professional with wide many of her peers in the field.
experience in both the public and private sectors.
In her storied career, she has won the admiration In 2013, Mawuena Trebarh entered the public
of colleagues and competitors alike and come sector for the first time as the first female Chief
to exemplify excellence and professional Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment
achievement in industries that are varied and Promotion Centre, the state agency tasked with
diverse. attracting and directing inward investment into
the Ghanaian economy. Her natural abilities,
She undertook further studies at the McCallum competence and instincts came through in
Graduate School of Business, Bentley College in this new role and during her tenure, Ghana saw
Massachusetts, USA where she earned a Master’s its highest quarterly intake of foreign direct
in Business Administration in Management and investment in the first quarter of 2015 when it
Strategic Planning in 2002. brought in USD 1.12 billion. She also led GIPC
for the first time ever to win the award for Best
She joined Ashanti Goldfields Company (now Investment Promotion Agency in Western and
Anglogold Ashanti) in 1996 as the first ever Central Africa, ahead of Rwanda and Nigeria. If
female underground geologist employed by the there were any doubts that Mrs. Trebarh could
company. This was merely the first in a string of function in any conceivable role, this stint must
firsts that would come to characterize her career. have laid them to permanent rest.

After stints in the Resource Evaluation and Mrs. Trebarh returned to private business in 2017
Investor Relations departments at the gold in her role as Chief Business Strategist at Inspire
mining firm, the versatile Mrs. Trebarh moved to Africa Consult, the business consulting firm she
Newmont where she served as head of corporate founded. She has also served in a number of high-
Communications from 2003 till 2007, overseeing profile appointments, including becoming the
an ambitious communications campaign that first female board chairperson of the Movenpick
was unprecedented on the continent. During her Ambassador Hotel, Ghana. She has won several
tenure, Newmont would establish a continental awards including the Millennium Leadership
and global brand presence that in some ways Forum Award for championing excellence in
defined the sector that had come to lack a clear trade investment and agro-processing and the
leader in the country. This was a huge feat for National Youth Role Model Award for being a role
someone who had trained in an entirely different model and youth leader. She is married with a
field. daughter.

Her achievements were noticed by
communications behemoth, MTN, which invited
her to take on the challenge of leading their
corporate services division at a time when the
company was going through major changes to
consolidate its position as the unchallenged
leader in the Ghanaian market. So successful was

104

KATE QUARTEY-
PAPAFIO

WHO'S WHO 2019

105

Kate Quartey-Papafio is the mould- The group has grown its capacity and is now able
breaking founder and Chief Executive to produce 12,000 metric tonnes of aluminium
Officer of the Reroy Group. In an industry and 4,000 tonnes of copper a year. With this
where there are few women, she chose to take capacity, Mrs Quartey-Papafio and the Reroy
on one of the toughest sectors and triumphed in Group constitute a significant force in the sub-
absolute style. Mrs. Quartey-Papafio has blazed region’s infrastructure agenda and are poised to
an admirable trail that is sure to influence and play an even more instrumental role in the future.
inspire many young women for decades to come.
The business is estimated to have brought her a
An ambitious go-getter with an eye for vast personal fortune in the region of a quarter of
opportunities, she started Reroy Cables in 1992 a billion dollars, the third largest fortune currently
to import and distribute high quality cables for held by a Ghanaian woman. As is to be expected
domestic use. This was after she discovered that for a career so successful, Mrs. Quartey-Papafio
there were not enough good quality cables on the has been decorated several times in Ghana and
local market as she sought to build her own house. elsewhere, even though she actively shuns the
The company she went on to build has become a limelight and prefers to have her actions speak
sub-regional powerhouse providing high quality for her. In recognition of her efforts and results,
service under four distinct brands. There is the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG)
Reroy Cables which produces power cables named her Marketing Woman of the Year in 2014.
and conductors; Reroy Power that produces
and installs power distribution equipment such In what was undoubtedly a good year, she also won
as transformers and substations; then there top honours in the entrepreneurship category
is Reroy Metals which specializes in aluminum at the maiden edition of the Osagyefo Kwame
wire rods. Another arm of the company, Reroy Nkrumah African Genius Awards. Reroy Cables
Energy constructs and operates combined cycle itself was adjudged Manufacturing Company of
gas power turbines and solar plants. Her eye the Year at the CIMG Awards. Other honours she
for quality, insistence on excellence and refusal has received include the 2013 Ernst & Young’s
to settle for second best, have seen the Reroy West Africa Entrepreneur of the Year award; 2013
brand become synonymous with quality in the Africa’s Most influential Women in Business and
production of electrical cables and materials. Government Awards. She was the Silver Awardee
at the third Ghana-Africa Business Awards in
From its modest beginning as solely an import 2008 and in 2016, the Europe Business Assembly
business, the company has moved through gave the Reroy Group the Best Enterprise Award
value addition to complete the manufacturing of for being a leader of the cable manufacturing
some of its products which it now exports. The industry in Africa.
company has an active presence in at least three
West African countries. Mrs. Quartey-Papafio’s
entrepreneurial instincts are credited with
the meteoric rise of the company from a small
operation to one that employs over a hundred
people and serves clients in both private and
public sectors across the sub-region.

106

ELIZABETH WYNS
DOGBE

WHO'S WHO 2019

107

Ghana’s corporate landscape is brimming Seeking to be an all-rounder with a view to
with high performing women most of becoming a good leader, she furthered her studies
whom have been plying their trade on the at the Central University College’s Graduate
quiet. If popular research about women being fine School of Business earning an MBA in Finance.
managers is anything to go by, then the nation is She is a Chartered Insurer and an Associate
in safe hands with the huge number of women Member of the Chartered Insurance Institute, UK
who are taking up managerial positions in some and also holds a certificate in Company Direction
of the nation’s biggest corporate firms. Hopefully, from the Institute of Directors, also in the UK.
this positive development will be replicated in the
nation’s political landscape soon. One fine high- A very spiritual person, Rev. Wyns-Dogbe is an
performer who has quietly built an impressive ordained Minister of the Gospel and holds a PhD
career in the world of insurance is Reverend in Theology from the Immanuel Bible Institute
Elizabeth Wyns-Dogbe, the Managing Director of and Seminary in the USA.
SIC Life Insurance Company Limited.
She has built an enviable career in insurance and
Hardworking, capable, and a consummate her forte is in the area of leadership and corporate
professional, her path to the top has been governance as well as risk management. Prior
aided by key personal qualities any achiever to her appointment as the Managing Director
must possess – assertiveness, being strategic, of SIC Life, she had worked in other insurance
analytical, result-oriented and a team-player. companies including KEK Insurance where she
It is these, coupled with her perseverance that served as Life Operations Manager, and at UT
has placed her within the top strata of Ghana’s Life Insurance as the General Manager in charge
insurers. of Operations.

Rev. Wyns-Dogbe’s educational background Believe it or not, the future of Ghana depends
defies the stereotypical attributes and straight- largely on the fortunes of its women and at the
jacket definition usually assigned to women - rapid rate with which the nation is churning out
that they should be soft and pursue less difficult female leaders like Rev. Wyns-Dogbe, the future
subjects whilst in school. She rode on her superb can only look bright for our country.
understanding of mathematics and pursued
a course in Engineering for her first degree,
earning a BSc in Engineering from the Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
(KNUST).

108

PATRICIA
OBO-NAI

WHO'S WHO 2019

109

When Patricia Obo-Nai was selected to Unit in an acting capacity. Mrs. Obo-Nai’s story
become the Chief Executive Officer is one built on education, empowerment and
(CEO) of Vodafone Ghana Ltd, she a sufficient amount of determination to lead.
did not only become the first Ghanaian to be With an immutable goal to become a leader in
appointed to that position, but she also joined whichever capacity she found herself, she set
the very short list of Ghanaian female corporate out to further her education, casting her scope
leaders blazing an unusual trail – a career in the beyond the engineering field she had begun her
field of engineering. career in. In 2006, she enrolled for an Executive
MBA programme in Project Management at the
In 1995, Patricia enrolled at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Ghana Business School. Then in
University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to 2019, she took another course in Basic Law from
pursue a course in Electrical Engineering for her the same University, obviously to equip herself
first degree. Whilst there, she began preparing with basic legal knowledge.
herself for the future leadership role she would
assume when she was made President of the The London Business School was her next
Electrical Engineering Students Association destination where she enrolled for a course in
of the University. She would also nurture her Executive Education in Leadership. She has
sportsmanship and her competitive spirit by also taken a course in Strategic Marketing from
joining the University ’s Women’s Volleyball team. INSEAD, France and in Business Marketing
After her graduation, Patricia began her career Strategy from North Western University ’s Kellogg
exploits in the male-dominated engineering School of Management in the USA.
profession by starting off as a Network Planning
Engineer at Milicom Ghana Ltd, operators of the Armed with such ample amounts of educational
then Tigo network. She rose through the ranks credentials on the back of a purpose-driven life,
and within a period of six years, she had become it is little surprising that Patricia Obo-Nai has
the Chief Technical Officer for the network giant. reached such heights in her career. Not only
In all, she spent fourteen years at Tigo before does she inspire confidence and a can-do spirit
switching to competitor, Vodafone. in women, but she amply epitomizes the age-old
maxim that “What men can do, women can do it
Her rise to the top management of Vodafone better.”
Ghana did not happen overnight but came at the
end of a long spell in the telecommunications
industry.

On her journey to the top, she served as the
company’s Director of Fixed Business and
Customer Operations, and at a point became
Director of the company’s Consumer Business

110

PATIENCE
AKYIANU

WHO'S WHO 2019

111

Ghana’s list of women who have blazed Sometimes one wants to test one’s own
the trail and achieved ‘firsts’ in their professional acumen by simply exploring
respective careers include one woman opportunities in different working environments
who did not let the initial blow life dealt and thus in November 2008, Patience switched
her during her formative years determine the lanes and joined competitor Barclays Bank,
course of her journey. She is Patience Akyianu. another giant in the banking landscape in Africa.
Starting out as a Financial Director, she rose
Patience lost her mother at an early stage in her quickly through the ranks and was made Acting
life and had to assume the responsibility of caring Managing Director (MD) in April 2013, a position
for her siblings. Without motherly love and care, she held until November that same year when
most people go wayward, but Mrs. Akyianu turned she was confirmed and made the substantive MD.
that misfortune into a blessing, nurturing the art
of management right from her early life. Thus, after years of hard work, determination
and diligence, Mrs. Akyianu’s hard work was
Patience had the fortune to attend the famed crowned in excellence with her appointment as
Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast for her the first female MD of Barclays Bank Ghana – a
secondary education. Whether by design or first for the bank and an industry first for women
accident, Wesley Girls High School seems to be in Ghana as well. She has been credited with
producing some of the best women leaders for helping transform the fortunes of Barclays Bank
corporate Ghana. Upon completing Wesley Girls, Ghana from a struggling bank back in 2008 when
Mrs. Akyianu continued with her studies at the she joined it, to a profitable one through prudent
University of Ghana, earning a Bachelor’s degree management and financial discipline.
in Administration, with first class honours in 1992.
She later enrolled for her Master’s degree at the In a keenly competitive corporate world, business
University of Ghana Business School, earning an owners always want the best hands to manage
MBA in Finance. their businesses. But it only takes very bold
and determined people to jump from being the
Her academic prowess set her up for the high Managing Director of one of the leading banks
flying career she has had. After spending a in Ghana to becoming the Group Chief Executive
number of years working in various roles at Officer of Hollard Ghana Holdings Limited. Such
the Standard Chartered Bank in Ghana, her is the valour and confidence of this remarkable
exceptional performance caught the attention of woman who crossed from one pinnacle of life in
her bosses and she was subsequently promoted banking to another in insurance without batting
to the position of Chief Financial Officer of the an eye.
bank’s subsidiary in South Africa.
If Patience Akyianu’s track record and exemplary
Noted for being a change maker, Patience leadership at the helm of Barclays Bank Ghana
Akyianu embarked on a series of actions at her is anything to go by, one can say without any
current position applying international best equivocation that she is sure to add her Midas
practices to bring the bank at par with other touch to Hollard to make it one of the biggest
international banks. She, for instance, pushed for insurance firms in Ghana.
adoption of the International Financial Reporting
Standards (IFR) at the bank to instill transparency
and discipline in its operations.

112

AKOSUA DENTAA
AMOATENG

WHO'S WHO 2019

113

Akosua Dentaa Amoateng, best known by of others has not gone unnoticed as in 2016,
her moniker Dentaa GUBA, is a bundle she was conferred with the honorary award of
of inspiration and an example of what a Member of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen
the can-do spirit can bring to the dreams and Elizabeth II. She has also been honoured with a
aspirations of the youth. Born in 1983 in Juaso Humanitarian Service Laureate by organizers of
in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, Dentaa moved the Ghana Peace Awards.
to the United Kingdom (UK) with her family at a
tender age of five. Starting her education in the Again, she was nominated as one of the 100 Most
UK, Dentaa was enrolled at the Walthamstow Outstanding Women Entrepreneurs in Ghana by
School for Girls where she had her GCSEs. She the African Network of Entrepreneurs and also
proceeded to the Leyton Sixth Form College and received the African Women in Europe (AWE)
pursued her ‘A’ Level studies in Media Studies, Award in 2013 for what organizers said was, “her
Sociology and Performing Arts. She then work in promoting Ghanaian achievements in the
studied for a degree in Paediatric Nursing at the UK and for her charity work”.
Buckinghamshire New University.
As a change agent and a pacesetter, Dentaa
Dentaa is a woman of vision and one bent on has shown what rewards there are in service to
actualizing her dreams. From a young age of mankind. She has not only become a benchmark
26, she set up the now famous Ghana UK Based for excellence with her entrepreneurial acumen
Achievement (GUBA) Awards, a not-for-profit and advocacy work but has demonstrated beyond
award scheme, primarily meant to acknowledge doubt that one does not need to change the
and celebrate the contributions of Ghanaians whole world at once in order to be seen, but to
and Africans in the UK who are excelling in their change the small community around oneself and
various fields of endeavour. the rippling effects will be felt and seen across
the world.
An avid entrepreneur, advocate, TV presenter,
actress and producer, Dentaa is Chief Executive
Officer of the GUBA Enterprise which is made
up of the GUBA Awards, GUBA Expo, GUBA
Foundation and GUBA Careers Fair. Her acting
prowess has seen her feature in such shows as
the British TV show EastEnders and Holby City.
She also hosts her TV shows namely The Dentaa
Show and reality TV music competition Mentor IV.
Her hard work and commitment to the welfare

114

JACQUELINE
BENYI

WHO'S WHO 2019

115

Jacqueline Benyi’s name stands tall in the Joining Enterprise Life at its inception in 2001,
world of insurance in Ghana. As the first Jacqueline quickly rose through the ranks,
ever Professional Life Underwriter and becoming Branch Manager of the company’s
Claims Assessor in the country, she is a fully Tema office in 2003. She went on further to
paid up member of the rarefied club of “firsts” become the Head of Customer Service and later
in Ghana. Even rarer still, she is one of very few Head of New Business for the company in 2005.
Ghanaian women to achieve a first ahead of her
male counterparts. She has built a distinguished With such speed in promotions, it was little
career in insurance and can be counted as one of surprising when Jacqueline was promoted to
the foremost authorities in Ghana when it comes Senior Manager Level in Charge of Operations
to the life insurance industry. in 2009 and then Assistant General Manager,
Operations in 2010. She rose to become the
Currently the Executive Director of Enterprise Deputy General Manager in Charge of Distribution
Life, a member of the Enterprise Group - a leader in 2011 and then General Manager in Charge of
in insurance in Ghana, Jacqueline’s meteoric rise Operations in September 2012.
to the top has had everything to do with her hard
work, dedication to duty and excellent knowledge Enterprise Life’s current dominance and
and expertise in the world of insurance. improved fortunes, without doubt, can be
attributed to the able and sound leadership being
Mrs. Benyi studied Economics and Sociology provided by Jacqueline Benyi. And considering
at the University of Ghana, earning a Bachelor’s the pace at which the insurance giant is growing
degree before returning to the same institution under Jacqueline able leadership, it is only a
for an Executive Master ’s in Business matter of time before the company’s entry into
Administration. In addition to these, she is also the sub-regional market will be announced.
a Chartered Insurer affiliated to the Chartered
Insurance Institute in the United Kingdom.

While these may have been enough for most
people, they weren’t for Mrs. Benyi and she also
gained Advanced Diplomas in Life and Disability
Underwriting and Life and Disability Claims from
the Assurance Medical Society, also in the United
Kingdom.

116

AKUA BRAYIE
OWUSU-NARTEY

WHO'S WHO 2019

117

Akua Owusu-Nartey is the Regional is widely thought to have done some of its best
Managing Director of Ogilvy Africa Group, work, growing its client base and balance sheet.
which is part of the global marketing Never one to rest on her oars with regards to
communications giant, WPP. Her meteoric rise her achievements, she returned in March 2016
in the corporate world has been credited to a to seek a new challenge at Ogilvy Ghana where
phenomenal work ethic; a willingness to think she took charge of its revenue targets, from
outside the proverbial box and her extraordinary which position she was elevated to her current
natural gifts that have seen her excel over and placement as country lead.
above expectations wherever she has worked.
With an eye that is as adept at spotting talent as Akua Nartey is widely respected in the industry
it is at discerning the most effective messaging, for her strength in integrated communications
her creative energy and leadership have quietly and ability to increase the growth of clients. At
redefined public relations in ways that will long Ogilvy, Mrs Nartey has worked persistently to
be felt. grow the firm’s client list and provide even more
innovative services to clients. She is also known
Mrs. Owusu-Nartey began her career at to be passionate about developing the creative
MMRS Ogilgy and was part of the team when teams with which she works. Some of the brands
it transitioned to Scanad Ghana. In April 2012, she has worked on are Nestle, Vodafone, Sab
Publicis West Africa, recognizing her immense Miller, Guinness, Renault and UNICEF.
talents, sought her out to head their strategic
planning unit. She was so impressive in this role Others include DHL, P&G, Total, Coke, Woodin
that in October of the following year, she was and Fidelity Bank. Mrs. Nartey attended Achimota
asked to assume the position of General Manager School, has a BSc in Business Administration
of the Publicis Africa Group Ghana, with overall from Central University College and is married
oversight of the firm, its management and its with two daughters.
creative output.

In that position, she oversaw the creative
campaigns of a wide range of companies in West
and Central Africa. During her tenure, Publicis

118

IVY APEA
OWUSU

WHO'S WHO 2019

119

Not many women dare to enter or are After her stint with GE, Cirrus Oil came calling
keen on rubbing shoulders with their and in late 2009, she joined the oil and energy
male counterparts at the top level when giant as the company’s Risk Manager and
it comes to the hugely male-dominated world of subsequently became General Manager in charge
oil and energy. But some women are born with of Commerce. In November 2010, she was handed
the mettle of steal and dare to dream differently. the full mantle of leadership when she was made
One such woman is Ivy Apea Owusu, the Chief CEO of the company.
Executive Officer (CEO) of Cirrus Oil Services
Limited, a leading oil and gas company in Ghana Ivy has not only developed herself to lead but
with an annual turnover reported to be in excess equipped herself with knowledge and expertise
of over US$700 million. With over 15 years’ in the areas of debt and equity financing in the
experience in the ‘crude’ world of oil and energy oil and gas, power generation, and the renewable
sector, Ivy is no mere pushover for her male and ancillary energy services sectors as well.
counterparts.
Whilst helping grow the fortunes of the company,
Married with two children, Ivy has built an she has also been focusing on humanitarian
exceptionally outstanding career that makes activities, spearheading a wide range of health
her a real power leader in Ghana. A product and education-related community activities to
of the University of Ghana, where she earned help improve the livelihood of Ghanaians.
her first degree in Administration, and the
Vanderbilt University in TN, USA from where Ivy serves on the board of Woodfields Energy
she obtained an MBA in Finance, she has built a Resources Ltd, the mother company of Cirrus
credible leadership profile comparable to that Oil and is also a board member for Legacy Bonds
of any female leader anywhere in the world. This Ltd. She is also currently board chairman for the
enviable feat has been achieved on the back of Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), Ghana.
her superior hands-on knowledge and expertise
in leadership, business strategy, people and Having been fully positioned as a female leader,
talent management, among others. it is unsurprising that the world has noticed her
exceptional leadership qualities and has come
Ivy started her illustrious career with Ecobank calling on her to impart her knowledge to others.
Ghana Ltd. where she worked in the Consumer She was a speaker on the panel of the maiden
Banking Department from 1998 until 2001. Then annual Executive Women’s Network (EWN)
in 2002, she found her love for oil and energy Conference 2017 in Ghana; keynote speaker at
through financing when she joined GE Capital in the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Power
the USA and UK and worked in Energy Financing Breakfast, and a panel presenter at the 2013
and Structured Finance until 2009. TICAD V Conference in Japan, among other
engagements.
In the twilight of her time at GE she was appointed
the Risk Director of the company and transferred
to London, UK to set up and head a European
Structured Finance desk for the company’s
French Bank (GECFB).

120

KAREN AKIWUMI-
TANOH

WHO'S WHO 2019

121

Karen Akiwumi-Tanoh’s name might not Transnational Incorporated (ETI) mooted the idea
readily ring a bell in the minds of the of entering into the Angolan market, Karen was
ordinary Ghanaian but in the corridors the one drafted in to help with the process, and
of corporate Ghana, she is one of the most in a matter of six months, she had accomplished
accomplished bankers there is in the country. her task. She was then entrusted with the
Her accomplishments in the banking, auditing responsibility of serving as the bank’s Country
and consulting fields span over 30 years and Representative in that country, obviously in
straddles over six countries including Ghana, the recognition of her impressive feat.
United Kingdom, the United States, Togo, Sierra
Leone and Angola. With such solid experience and knowledge in the
banking industry, it is hardly surprising that Karen
Starting off her education at the prestigious became the toast of most corporates seeking
Achimota College in 1967, Karen continued her direction and guidance from capable individuals
educational journey earning a BSc Business in advisory capacities. In 2013, Spencer Stuart
Administration from the University of Ghana came calling and she was appointed an Advisory
and an MBA from the same institution. But even Board Member by the world-renowned leader in
before she would complete her MBA, Karen had executive research and leadership consulting,
caught the eye of the powers that be and was tasked with providing a West African perspective
drafted into the Government of Ghana’s VALCO on strategy and also contributing to the firm’s
Renegotiation Team in the early years of the expansion in the sub region. She is currently
erstwhile Rawlings regime. She is a Chartered the Board Chairperson of First Atlantic Bank,
Accountant (ICAEW) having trained with Coopers whilst also serving as a Non-Executive Director
and Lybrand in the UK and qualifying in 1988 after for Prudential Life Insurance Ghana (PLIG) and
a three-year period. Stratcom Africa.

Karen has, without doubt, had a storied career For a continent where women have largely been
journey that fits her perfectly into the top stymied from exploiting their full potentials and
stratums of the most accomplished Ghanaian have often been restricted to catering for the
women. She is among other things, credited needs of the home, Karen’s achievements are
with establishing the Sierra Leonean subsidiary remarkable by all standards. She can be counted
of regional banking giant, Ecobank, serving as as one of the few Ghanaian women who shirked
its Managing Director for a three-and-half year the stereotypical cloak of women playing second
period and laying the bank’s building blocks fiddle to men and went on to follow her dreams.
in that country. Again in 2010, when Ecobank

122

DR. ELSIE
KAUFMANN

WHO'S WHO 2019

123

Science quizzes are not usually a topic of At the University of Ghana, she advocated for
animated national conversation but the the establishment of a Faculty of Engineering
National Science and Maths Quiz, which Sciences in the University. She was appointed
pits senior high schools in the country against to serve on the planning and implementation
each other for annual honours, has captured the committee tasked to present and execute
interest and attention of the country like few proposals for its establishment. When the faculty
other television offerings. was finally set up, she was appointed as its first
head, serving from 2006 to 2012 and again from
Much of this heightened interest is due to the 2014 to 2016. Her teaching and research are
presence and performance of the quiz mistress, focused on tissue engineering, biomaterials and
Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, a senior lecturer in the how biomedical concepts can be applied to solve
Faculty of Engineering Sciences at the University various problems faced by Ghana.
of Ghana.
While pursuing her remarkable career brought
Friendly yet firm, warm yet focused, Dr. Kaufmann her a stellar reputation among colleagues in
has guided the show since she took over with Ghana and elsewhere, it was when she took over
grace, humour and understanding for her young as host of the National Science and Maths Quiz
contestants that has won the hearts of the that she entered the national consciousness. Her
students and parents who take a keen interest in ease of manner and obvious brilliance quickly
the quiz. won her many admirers and brought the show
many more eyeballs than had previously paid
Dr. Kaufmann studied at the Aburi Girls’ Senior attention to it.
High School, where her brilliance was noticed by
the school authorities. A recommendation to take Today, Dr. Kaufmann has virtually become an icon
part in a scholarship examination followed and as for the show, a magnet for increased interest
one of the successful students, she won a place and more importantly, an inspiration to many
at United World College of the Atlantic in Wales young women who are now emboldened by her
to continue her studies. There, she obtained to take on science, technology and mathematics
her International Baccalaureate Diploma before courses.
proceeding to the University of Pennsylvania in
the US, where she earned a Bachelor of Science She has received several awards for her work
in Engineering (BSE), a Master of Science in including the International Women’s Forum
Engineering (MSE) and a PhD in Bioengineering, Leadership Foundation Fellowship (2011),
no mean feat in a field that even today, seems University of Ghana’s Best Teacher Award for the
unwelcoming to people of her gender. Sciences (2009) and the National Society of Black
Engineers Golden Torch Award for International
She then undertook her post-doctoral training Academic Leadership (2018). She serves on the
at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA, where governing boards of African Gifted Foundation
she worked as a research supervisor at the Ghana (African Science Academy) and the British
Department of Chemistry before returning to International School-Ghana.
Ghana in 2001 to join the University of Ghana.

124

GRACE
AMEY OBENG

WHO'S WHO 2019

125

Few have done more for the Ghanaian While in the business, she noticed there were only
beauty industry than Grace Amey- a few beauty products that catered specifically
Obeng, the brain behind the FC Group of for dark skin, so Mrs. Amey-Obeng created the
Companies, which is responsible for brands such Forever Clair skin care range to help Africans
as the Forever Clair line of beauty products. From care for and retain their natural skin colour. The
humble beginnings, she has grown the company product line now exports to Nigeria, Burkina
into one of the most formidable brands in the Faso, Togo, Ivory Coast, Switzerland and the
country, providing beauty services and products, United Kingdom. She has campaigned vigorously
as well as training and employment to thousands against skin bleaching and developed products
of Ghanaian youth, particularly females. In to help restore skin that has been negatively
the process, she has developed a reputation affected by the practice.
as one of Ghana’s most savvy and respected
entrepreneurs, male or female, and is thought to In 1999, she set up the FC Beauty Academy to
be among one of Ghana’s wealthiest self-made pass on her knowledge and has since trained
women. more than 5000 young people. To give even more
people the benefit of her knowledge and charity,
A medical aesthetician turned entrepreneur, Mrs. she formed the Grace Amey-Obeng Foundation in
Amey-Obeng trained in Beauty Therapy at the 2007 to provide mentoring, coaching and training
Croydon College in the United Kingdom. Perhaps opportunities to young rural school girls.
aware of the mission that she would eventually
set for herself, she travelled to the United States Mrs. Amey-Obeng is also the Chairperson
where she studied Paramedic Aesthetics at the of the Universal Merchant Bank’s charitable
Aesthetic Research Institute, California. She foundation and the Ghana Cosmetology and
also obtained a certificate in Dermabrasion, Wellness Federation, a joint initiative with the
Electrolysis and Lymphatic Drainage from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to help
Newlands Hospital in the UK. practitioners protect the health of customers in
the cosmetology and wellness sector.
Her thirst for knowledge and expertise has seen
her undertake a programme in surgical needling Mrs. Amey-Obeng has received several honours
at the Sports Science Institute in South Africa. including the 2002 CIMG Marketing Woman of the
She also has a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Year award and the 2010 International Women
Administration from the European Business Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) award in
School, UK, as well as a certificate from the Spain. She was Country Winner for Africa’s Most
African Leadership Initiative, West Africa. Influential Women Awards 2014 and a recipient of
the Most Enterprising Women of the Year award
After her studies in the UK, she returned to Ghana in the USA in 2014. She has also won the Nobles
and started the FC Beauty Clinic with USD100 International Award (2003), the Silver Award for
in funding from family members. At the time, Technology at the Industrial Pinnacle Awards
she couldn’t have gotten financial institutions (2004) and the ACE Awards (2004). In 2017, she
to invest in an idea that seemed so far out. But was honoured at the second event of the Ghana
she believed in her vision and many years of hard Women of the Year Honours in the category of
work, perseverance and innovation later, the Excellence in Business.
company now has an annual turnover of more
than USD 8 million, 98 permanent employees and
eight branches in Ghana.

126

DZIBORDI K.
DOSOO

WHO'S WHO 2019

127

Dzigbordi K. Dosoo is an entrepreneur, consultancy with offices in the US and Accra,
wellness, grooming and lifestyle expert Ghana. In addition, she runs G’CINDKS Services
and restaurateur. She founded the Limited, a catering and Hospitality Company
Allure Africa Group, which has grown from a which provides banqueting, event management
single room in Osu, Accra, to be one of the most and rental services, as well as Nudufe, a
recognizable beauty brands in Ghana with an restaurant in Accra.
office in Washington DC, the seat of the United
States’ government. She co-created “Kanshi,” an authentic African skin
and body care aromatherapy and spa product line
She almost single-handedly transformed the that utilises West African ingredients including
beauty and wellness industry in the country, papaya, mango, coconut and shea butter for a
bringing to it a new flair, entrepreneurial style nourishing and healing effect.
and superior management techniques that lent
not just a marketing edge to her business but also The ever-innovative Mrs. Dosoo is also the
a stability and longevity not previously known in convener of “Iyaba,” a networking event that
the industry. brings together practitioners in the beauty
industry and providing them with training.
Mrs. Dosoo attended Aburi Girls Senior High
School before earning a degree in Economics and A keen philanthropist, she’s a member of the
Finance from Virginia State University and a post- Zonta Club of Accra II, the Complete Renewed
graduate certificate from Syracuse University, Equipped Women (CREW), serves on the
New York. She began her working life at the governing council of United Way Ghana and is
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) trustee of the Children’s Heart Foundation Ghana.
in Washington DC before relocating to Ghana
in 1998. It was this experience and insight that She is a sought-after speaker and has received
must have aided her when she decided to come executive education from Harvard University,
back to Ghana and disrupt the beauty business. certifications in Image and Lifestyle Consulting
Allure is now a multi-site operation with a strong and Coaching, Etiquette and International
brand that transcends the industry to which it is Protocol, Spa Management and Wellness
native, cementing Mrs. Dosoo’s reputation as an Therapy.
entrepreneur, innovator and trail blazer not only
in beauty and wellness but in the entire service In 2009, Mrs. Dosoo was named the “CIMG
industry. Marketing Woman of the Year” and in 2010,
was recognized by the Global Centre for
The irrepressible Mrs. Dosoo has not only made Transformational Leadership as the Most
an impact in the beauty industry. She is also Outstanding and Influential Ghanaian that year.
the head of Eagle Consulting International,
an investment, trade, business and project

128

GIFTY AFENYI-
DADZIE

WHO'S WHO 2019

129

Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie is a businesswoman and Madam Afenyi-Dadzie’s business acumen and
one of Ghana’s most famous journalists. insight has been placed at the disposal of several
Her illustrious career culminated in her institutions both in Ghana and outside it. These
serving as President of the Ghana Journalists include the Ghana Institute of Journalism, the
Association from 1996 to 2003, during which National Media Commission, Ekumfiman Rural
time the practice in the country took on a more Bank, CDH Insurance, and Kulendi@Law, one of
confident and activist role than it had done at any the most high-profile law firms in the country.
time in the nation’s history. She redefined not Since 1993, she has been an associate of the
only the leadership of the association itself but Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press
also the profession, its relationship with society (WIFP), a non-governmental organization which
and how journalists perceived themselves. To seeks to increase interaction between women
date, she remains the only woman ever to have and expose the public to women-based media.
held that position and the president to have
served the longest. A staunch believer, she is the interdenominational
Women’s Aglow Ministry ’s National Prayer
Mrs. Afenyi-Dadzie was born on July 7, 1957 Director, overseeing the prayer meetings the
just a few months after Ghana gained her group organizes for the nation every month.
independence. For her secondary education, she
attended the Winneba Secondary School, sitting She is the recipient of several awards and honours
for her Ordinary Level Examinations in 1975. She including the Order of the Star of Ghana (the
later obtained a diploma from the Ghana Institute highest national award) in 2006 and Personality
of Journalism. In addition, she is a fellow of the for the Year at the 2018 Harvest Praise Gospel
Chartered Institute of Administrators. Concert organized by Harvest International
Ministries.
In 2005, Madam Afenyi-Dadzie was appointed
to the Council of State of the Republic of Ghana Her strength, devoutness and professional
by then President John Agyekum Kufuor. At the excellence continue to inspire and challenge
time of her appointment, she was the youngest young women in and outside of journalism all
person to have ever served in that capacity. over the country. She is married and has two
daughters.
Following her career in journalism, she entered
the world of business where her trademark
excellence soon announced itself in phenomenal
success and expansion of her business. First
Africa Group, the firm of which she is Managing
Director, has 13 subsidiaries operating in various
economic sectors across the country.

130

GIFTY
ANTI

WHO'S WHO 2019

131

There are two types of people in society. The multiple award-winning journalist who
There are those who are gifted with eyes started off her professional career as a floor
to see every wrong all time and harangue, manager on GTV’s Breakfast show rose to be host
complain and act indifferent towards the problem of the Breakfast show after her impressive output
without lifting a hand of solution. And there are as floor manager. Having gained popularity and
the darers, those who don’t just see the problem great reputation among many young people in
but work out solutions to solve that problem. Such the country while hosting the show for over a
people are not comfortable till they’ve extended decade, Gifty quit GBC on December 31, 2013 to
a helping hand, and they only stop pushing when focus attention on her Gifty Dansoa Anti (GDA)
there’s nothing else to push. Concepts Limited. She disclosed on Facebook
that her resignation from Ghana Broadcasting
Oheneyiri Gifty Anti is one of such people, Corporation after several years of dedicated
she’s a darer and a shaker. She is an excellent service and hard work was not influenced by
journalist, broadcaster and the host of one of the money as news from certain quarters of the
most celebrated Talk shows in the country; The media suggest.
Standpoint, a program that gives a platform for
the voice of women to be heard, and a gender GDA Concepts is the producer of popular TV talk
activist and advocate, who has been one of show, The StandPoint; a TV program which deals
the strong pillars of women empowerment in with issues affecting women; social, political,
Ghana. The CEO of GDA concepts limited through cultural, traditional, health, and leadership. She
initiatives like “The girl in need foundation” has has taken critical steps to change a lot of women
pushed so many girls through higher heights in and harness their potentials towards national
their education. development.

Seeing her shine now, it might be hard to believe She has swept many awards in Ghana and across
that this ace broadcaster didn’t just glide on the Africa including the prestigious 2015 Super
highway to glory with honey oozing ceaselessly Woman Award and has been the bedrock of many
in her mouth. But the truth is, her journey to the foundations including the Awo Dansoa Reading
top has had its own valleys and narrow moments. Project that has overseen the building of a library
Gifty hails from Asempanyin in the Central at Adumasa to grow the interest of children in
Region of Ghana and the last of eight children. reading.
After completing Mfantisman Girls High school,
she went into carpentry, which she jokingly calls
the “wood industry” to make ends meet and later
enrolled at the Ghana Institute of Journalism
(GIJ).

132

JOYCE AKUMAA
DONGOTEY-PADI

WHO'S WHO 2019

133

Joyce Dongotey-Padi, known in public life which extends a helping hand to widows in
as Akumaa Mama Zimbi is a radio and the country, holding several events for them
television personality, actress, entrepreneur, including an annual Widows Conference.
philanthropist, women’s rights activist and
relationship coach. With her remarkable The foundation has provided education on
headgears, charming manner and willingness to reproductive health as well as skills in sewing,
break social conventions, Mama Zimbi has built agriculture, beekeeping and other economic
a loyal following and is one of the most popular activities with the aim of equipping widows with
media and pop culture personalities in the earning power. Mama Zimbi is also renowned for
country. her passionate campaign for abstinence from
pre-marital sex among the youth, particularly on
She first caught the public’s attention in the social media where she has a large and dedicated
1990s as an actress in the popular TV drama following.
Cantata which aired on GBC TV. A natural in front
of the camera, she became one of the show’s A woman of (literally) many hats, she is also the
most loved actors, setting the stage for a career Chief Executive Officer of Zimbid Concepts,
that would come to be propelled by strong public a media production company that produces
interest and fan dedication. She would go on to content aimed at empowering women and
star in at least five movies before venturing into bringing attention to their issues. Mama Zimbi
the media. In 2000, seeking a new challenge, she is without doubt, one of the most effective
decided to try her hand at radio and despite her champions of and voice for women and gender
total lack of experience; she was given a spot on advocacy in the country.
the Multimedia Group owned Adom FM.
She has won several awards including Best
Her radio show, “Odo Ahomaso” and later Female Radio Celebrity of the Year at the 2015
television show by the same name on Adom GN Peoples’ Choice Awards, Most Popular Show
TV, quickly gained a wide audience and soon of the Year at the 2015 Ghana Television Awards,
established her as a dominant figure in Ghanaian the International Humanitarian of the Year
media. Currently, they are among the most honour presented by the UK-based international
popular shows in the country. In the adult themed ‘Women4Africa’ organization and the World
show, Akumaa dispenses life and relationship Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Award
advice with disarming humour and an appealing for Sustainability. She also won the Culture of
manner that has won her even more followers and Peace Award at the National Peace Awards and
fans than she had as a screen actress, spawning has been named The Ambassador of Peace and
several viral videos and memes. Humanity. Joyce Dontotey Padi is married with
three children.
Her concern for people goes beyond mere words
and in 2004 she established the Mama Zimbi
Foundation, a non-governmental organization
through which she has been undertaking
philanthropic activities. She is also Executive
Director of the Widows Alliance Network (WANE),

134

WHO'S WHO 2019

Ghana’s

Statesmen

136 Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan was until his retirement in 2015, the
Chairman of Ghana’s Electoral Commission, a position he had held
DR. since 1993. He was the number two in the Interim National Electoral
KWADWO Commission that supervised the 1992 election that ushered in the
AFARI-GYAN Fourth Republican dispensation.

MOHAMMED He had also, as a member of the Committee of Experts drafted to
IBN CHAMBAS propose a constitution for the country, which were later deliberated
on by the Constituent Assembly and ratified in a referendum in
WHO'S WHO 2019 1992. After the coming into force of the constitution, Dr Gyan was
appointed to head the substantive organization and went on to
oversee the organization of five general elections as well as district
level and by-elections. Prior to assuming the position, he was a
distinguished and widely published academic, lecturing in political
science in Ghana, Nigeria and the United States.

He was educated at Achimota School and Adisadel College and
the University of Ghana, where he read Philosophy at both the
undergraduate and post-graduate levels. As commissioner,
Dr Gyan’s calm demeanor was as critical to the success of the
elections, he supervised as was his fidelity to the rules and
unflinching impartiality. Under his leadership, he pursued various
reforms that strengthened the commission and improved the
electoral process. His work earned him wide respect and he was
recognized by various institutions in Ghana and abroad. In 2015,
then President John Mahama conferred on him the Order of the
Star of Ghana, one of the highest honors in the country.

Mohammed Ibn Chambas is the United Nations Special
Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the
Sahel Region, Head of the United Nations Office for West African
States and one of Ghana’s most accomplished diplomats and
international civil servants with a stellar track record that has
earned him great respect and admiration.

After his secondary education at Mfantsipim School and Tamale
Secondary School, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree at the
University of Ghana, Legon before proceeding to Cornell University
in New York for his Masters and Doctoral qualifications. He further
pursued a Bachelor of Law (LLB) from the Case Western Reserve
University in the United States. Dr Chambas entered the diplomatic
service and was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
under the Provisional National Defence Council, a position he kept
with the advent of constitutional rule, till his party, the National
Democratic Congress, left office in 2001. He also served as Member
of Parliament, representing the people of Bimbila between 1993
and 2004.

Dr Chambas quickly reinvented himself as an international civil
servant and won the position of President of the then newly created
Economic Commission of West African States Commission. When
his three year term ended in 2009, he continued on the path of
international diplomacy and is credited with several achievements,
including the successful medication between parties of the First
Liberian Civil War.

137

Joyce Rosalind Aryee is a former minister, entrepreneur, JOYCE
reverend minister and a feminist icon. She attended the ROSALIND
Methodist Primary School and Methodist Middle School and ARYEE
later proceeded to the University of Ghana for undergraduate HANNA
studies. She first shot to national prominence when she SERWAA
was appointed as a Secretary of State under the Provisional TETTEH
National Defence Council led by then Flight Lieutenant Jerry
John Rawlings.

Madam Aryee has served in various capacities under that
government, including as Minister at the ministries of
Information; Education; and Local Government. At a time
when there were few women in public office, she earned many
admirers for her strength and competence and became an
example of the heights to which Ghanaian women could climb
if they were given the opportunity.

On leaving active politics, she founded the Salt and Light
Ministries, a religious organization that helps in the
propagation of the gospel as well as a deeper understanding
of its import and impact. She also served as the first female
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, an
advocacy institution in the extractive industry. Madam Aryee
has received several honors, including the Companion of
Order of the Volta in 2006, the 2007 Chartered Institute of
Marketing of Ghana (CIMG) Marketing Woman of the Year
Award, and the 2009 African Female Business Leader of the
Year Award in Economic Development.

Hanna Serwaa Tetteh is the current Director General of the
United Nations in Nairobi, former Minister for Foreign Affairs,
former Member of Parliament and a distinguished lawyer. She
had her secondary school education at the Wesley Girls Senior
High School and later went on to obtain her Bachelor of Law
degree at the University of Ghana. She went further to the
Ghana Law School and was called to the bar.

After her National Service at the International Federation of
Women Lawyers (FIDA), she worked with the Ghana Agro Food
Company (GAFCO), a food processing company, as a legal
adviser. She also held administrative and managerial positions
within GAFCO until she went into politics in 2000, serving a
term in parliament as MP for Awutu Senya constituency for the
National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Hanna Tetteh was elected a National Executive Member of the
NDC and later as National Communications Director for the
party in 2008, helping to manage its communication strategy
for that year’s election. This made her a prominent political
figure and she became the main spokesperson for the party.
She served as Minister of Trade and Industry and Minister for
Foreign Affairs during the two terms of the party’s tenure. She
also served as a member of the National Security Council and
Armed Forces Council of Ministers. She has two children.

138 Justice William Atuguba is a former justice of the Supreme
Court of Ghana and one of the most well-known faces on
WILLIAM the bench. After his legal education, he began his career as
ATUGUBA a private practitioner before joining the Judicial Service of
Ghana in 1995 as a state attorney and rising through the ranks
DR. until his appointment as a magistrate of the court. Blessed
OBED YAO with a fierce intellect and of impeccable character, it was no
ASAMOAH surprise when he was elevated to the Supreme Court.

WHO'S WHO 2019 From the highest court of the land, he handed down several
significant judgements and opinions that furthered the cause
of the rule of law and expanded the freedoms of citizens. To
his colleagues he was an affable and dependable colleague,
whose Latin-suffused judgements marked the breadth of his
scholarship.

As the most senior judge on the bench, he was often the one
to act when the Chief Justice was away. But it was in 2013,
when Justice Atuguba was chosen to preside over the nine-
member panel that decided the election petition brought by
three members of the New Patriotic Party to challenge the
results of the 2012 election that the Ghanaian public finally
got to meet and admire the venerable judge. As the television
coverage proceeded, his fairness, faithfulness to a procedural
correctitude tolerance and sense of humor won him the hearts
of many observers. These same qualities also enabled him to
carry out his functions as As Chairperson of the Disciplinary
Committee of the General Legal Council.

Obed Yao Asamoah is among the most illustrious politicians in
Ghana’s history, having served in various high profile roles across
different dispensations. He was educated at Achimota School
before going on to Kings College in London for his Bachelor of
Law, and Colombia Law School to obtain his doctorate degree.
He returned to Ghana to take up an appointment as a lecturer at
the law department of the University of Ghana. In 1979, he joined
the Constituent and Consultative Assemblies that drafted a
constitution for the nation as it returned to democratic rule
after military interventions that begun in 1972. He was elected
to parliament in the elections that year and became the
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. Following the overthrow
of the People’s National Party government, he accepted the
position of Secretary for Foreign Affairs, beginning the longest
ever tenure for any minister in the history of the country. On
the return to constitutional rule, he retained the position and
was appointed Attorney General in addition. After the National
Democratic Congress left office in 2001,

Dr Asamoah was elected party chairman and began a process
of reforming the party to become more electable. These
attempts were stiffly resisted by some elements in the party
and after some internal wrangling, he left with other members
of the party to form the Democratic Freedom Party. In 2012, Dr
Asamoah formally rejoined the NDC and continues to play a role
in the affairs of the party. He is the author of two books - The
Legal Significance of the Declarations of the General Assembly
of the United Nations and The Political History of Ghana (1950-
2013): The Experience of a Nonconformist.

Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni is the Secretary General of the 139
Africa, Caribbean Pacific group, a former minister and
member of parliament and the 2004 vice presidential running MOHAMMAD
mate of the National Democratic Congress. He is an alumnus MUMUNI
of the Tamale Secondary School and the University of Ghana, PROF.
where he obtained a Bachelor of Law degree. After his studies, KWESI
he worked as a teaching assistant in the law faculty before BOTCHWEY
gaining appointment as a deputy coordinator of the National
Service Scheme.

In 1976, he moved to the now defunct Bank for Housing and
Construction as a legal officer. A year later, he was appointed
District Magistrate with the Judicial Service of Ghana and for
a period of three years. His career in politics began with his
election as Presiding Member of the Tolon–Kumbungu District
Assembly, serving two terms before his election as Member
of Parliament for Kumbungo constituency in 1996. He was
appointed Minister for Employment and Social Welfare by then
President John Rawlings and held the position till the end of
that government’s life.

In 2004, Professor John Evans Atta Mills named Alhaji Mumuni
as his running mate in his unsuccessful bid to unseat President
John Agyekum Kufour in that year’s election. In 2009, he was
appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs by the newly elected
President Mills, a position he held till 2013. Alhaji Mumuni is the
founder and chairman of the Bonzali Rural Bank. He is married
with six children.

Dr Kwesi Botchwey was the Minister of Finance and Economic
Planning between 1982 and 1995, one of the most turbulent
and economically significant periods in the nation’s history.
A lawyer by training, he had his education at the Presbyterian
Boys’ Senior High School and the University of Ghana before
proceeding to the University of Michigan Law School. His
school days were marked by activism and he was known as
one of the leaders of the youthful resistance to economic
mismanagement and human rights abuses that marked the
1970s.

When the Provisional National Defence Council was set up
in the wake of the overthrow of the Liman government, Dr
Botchwey was appointed Minister of Finance and began a
search for solutions to the dire economic situation in the
country. While his politics was left-wing, he proved an adept
pragmatic as an economist and led a successful advocacy for
a return to the Bretton Woods institutions that many in the
new administration were set against. The resulting raft of
measures agreed with the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund put the country back on the path to growth, but
caused some short term pain that Dr Botchwey was blamed
for. Nevertheless, his reputation as a competent economist
prevailed until his resignation in 1995. In 2004, he challenged
Professor Atta Mills for the right to lead the National Democratic
Congress in the elections but was unsuccessful. He remains
active in the affairs of the NDC and is widely respected by
those in and outside of the party.

140 Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah is a former minister, renowned
communications expert and entrepreneur. He attended
DR. Mfantsipim School, the University of Ghana and the Ohio
EKWOW University, where he obtained a Master of Arts in International
SPIO-GABRAH Relations. He later received an international banking and
finance certificate from the New York University in the United
EMILE States of America. Dr Spio-Garbrah burnished his credentials
FRANCIS as a communications expert while working for the African
SHORT Development Bank. Such was his reputation that he was
nominated by President Jerry John Rawlings to be his Minister
WHO'S WHO 2019 of Information.

When he had to withdraw his nomination due to a technical
issue, he was named Ambassador to the United States of
America where he assiduously sold the nation as an investment
destination. In 1997, he returned to government and served in the
ministries of education and mines and energy. At the education
ministry, he led the creation of the Ghana Education Trust
Fund, a dedicated funding source of education and education
infrastructure in the country. After the party left office, he took
on the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth
Telecommunication Organization. He was again appointed as a
minister, this time for trade and industry, in 2014. In 2006 and
again in 2019, he sought to become the presidential candidate
of the National Democratic Congress but was unsuccessful on
both occasions.

Emile Francis Short was the first chairman of the Commission
on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, which was set
up in the 1992 Fourth Republican constitution. He is a widely
respected attorney, human rights advocate, and an expert in
jurisprudence and public administration. He was educated at
the London School of Economics and Political Science where
he obtained a Master’s in Law before being called to the English
bar in 1966. He would later be called to the Ghanaian and Sierra
Leone bars as well. After stints as a lecturer at the University of
Cape Coast and the Middlesex Polytechnic in London, he began
a promising private practice in Ghana.

His reputation for deep insight into the theory and application
of the law grew and when the CHRAJ was first set up, he was
nominated to be its first ever chairman, tasked with building a
robust institution from the scratch. After a successful tenure,
he took on several international appointments, including UN
General Assembly Ad Litem Judge for Rwanda. He has also
provided legal and administrative consultancy services to
several international organizations such as United Nations
Development Program (UNDP) and served as Representative in
the Commonwealth in London. After a tense by-election in the
Ayawaso Wuogon West constituency, he chaired a commission
that was formed to investigate the source of the disturbance
and propose solutions to avert a future recurrence. Mr Short
remains a widely sought after speaker and commentator on
national affairs, particularly in the areas of human rights,
corruption and administrative procedures.

141

Mary Chinery Hesse is the first female Chancellor of the MARY
University of Ghana and has succeeded in entering Ghana’s CHINERY
book of records for her dedication and service to the nation. HESSE
She had her secondary education at the Wesley Girls High AMA
School and her tertiary education at the University of Ghana. ATA
She holds a postgraduate degree in Development Economics AIDOO
from the University of Dublin and a Doctor of Laws from the
University of Ghana.

She started her early career as a Principal Secretary at the
Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and a secretary
of the National Economic Planning Council. She later became
the first African woman Resident Coordinator of the United
Nations System and a Resident Representative of the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She was a member
of the Council of African Advisors of the World Bank in 1992,
and subsequently head of the Consultative Committee on
Programmes and Operational Questions of the United Nations.

Highlights of her work as a stateswoman cannot be emphasized
without stating the various high-profile roles she has played
both in national and international capacities including being
the first female Deputy Director of the International Labour
Organization in Geneva. She later became Vice Chairman for
the National Planning Commission, besides serving as an
adviser to former President John Agyekum Kufuor. She is
indeed a trail blazer for other women to follow.

Ama Ata Aidoo, born Christina Ama Aidoo is an award-winning
author noted for her creative literary works including novels,
plays, short stories and poetry. She was the main focus for a
documentary titled, “The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo” in 2014 which
was directed by Yaba Badoe. She is an alumnus of the Wesley
Girls High School, where her passion for poetry was born. She
later attended the University of Ghana.

She is a staunch feminist and has been described as one who
is passionate about the growth and development of the female
gender. This caused her to establish the Mbaasem Foundation
to help support African women writers, particularly girls in
high school. She was appointed the first female Minister of
Education during the Rawlings’ era. Some of her books include,
‘Our sister Killjoy,’ ‘The Girl Who Can and other stories’, ‘Anowa’
and the Dilemma of a Ghost.’

She is the mother of Kinna Likimani, the founder of AfterSchool
Ghana.

142 Yaw Osafo-Marfo is the Senior Minister of the republic of
Ghana with in-depth knowledge on Ghana’s economic policies,
YAW banking and finance. He attended Achimota School and the
OSAFO- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Mr.
MARFO Osafo-Marfo undertook a fellowship program with the Ghana
Institution of Engineers and is a fellow of the Ghana Institute of
Architects. He is a past Vice President of the National Union of
Ghana Students (NUGS) and worked as an engineer at the Volta
Aluminum Company (VALCO).

His experience in banking started out when he founded the Bank
for Housing and Construction in 1979, and the National Investment
Bank during subsequent years. He has played consultancy roles
as an expert in the banking and finance sector, serving as board
member for several corporate organizations including the World
Bank, the United Nations, African Development Bank, National
Development Planning Commission, DONEWELL Insurance
and Nestle Ghana Limited. Amidst several roles, Yaw Osafo-
Marfo was the founding Deputy Chairman of the Ghana Stock
Exchange, helping the nation to handle economic debt, inflation
and financial policies both internally and externally.

He also helped establish Methodist University College, one of
Ghana’s premier private universities. He is married with four
children.

MARIETTA Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong served as the former Attorney
BREW APPIAH- General and Minister of Justice in the Mahama government.
OPPONG She currently holds a position at the International Chamber of
Commerce’s (ICC) Court of Arbitration. As a legal practitioner
with over 20 years’ experience in dispute resolution, she has
served her nation well amidst several challenges.

She attended St. Roses Senior High School, University of Ghana,
Ghana School of Law, and the Institute of Social Studies at The
Hague, Netherlands. She started her practice at the Fugar and
Co. law firm in Accra, later becoming Senior Partner at the
Lithur Brew and Co. law firm. She served as board member
on the Council of the Volta River Authority during the Mills
administration. She also worked as a member of the Ghana at
Fifty Commission of Enquiry.

She became popular after her victory during the case of Ghana
versus Cote D’Ivoire at the International Tribunal of the Law of
the Sea (ITLOS). All of these roles and her service to the nation
have helped her transition to become an internationally sought-
after candidate for global judicial services, which include her
current position with the ICC Court of Arbitration where she is
serving a three-year term. She has three children.

WHO'S WHO 2019

143

Daniel Ohene Agyekum is the former Ambassador of Ghana to the DANIEL
US and the current Campaign Manager of the National Democratic OHENE
Congress (NDC) for the 2020 general election. He attended the AGYEKUM
Achimota School and earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from
the University of Ghana. He also attended the Ghana Institute
of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) where he
obtained a diploma in Public Administration and further earned an
International Certificate in Diplomacy from the Australian National
University. He was born on 10th March 1942.

He has held ministerial roles including Ashanti Regional Minister
and Minister for Chieftaincy Affairs. He also served as District
Administrative Officer in 1969. He later became appointed as
Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada for six years, leading Ghana’s
delegation to negotiate on the adoption of the Montreal Protocol on
the Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer.

He has been a loyal servant of the NDC since 1993. His ambassadorial
role has enabled him to win many negotiations for Ghana including
the popular ‘Can Ghana Beat the Oil Curse’ debate. He helped to
secure the funds raised from Ghana’s oil production and distribution
to benefit the nation. He is a true statesman who believes the
greatest asset Ghana has is its people. He is married to Rose and
they have five children.

Born on November 22, 1941, Hackman Owusu Agyeman is the HACKMAN
current Board Chairman of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). He OWUSU-
is a former Member of Parliament and Minister of State for the New AGYEMANG
Patriotic Party. He attended school at St. Augustine’s College, the
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the
Institute of Social Studies, The Hague.

He later enrolled at the Wye College in the United Kingdom, where
he obtained a Master’s degree in Agriculture. He started work at
the Ministry of Agriculture in Ghana, later moving on to work with
the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Italy where he rose
to the status of Chief Regional Bureau for Africa. In 1996, he won
the parliamentary election to become Member of Parliament for
New Juabeng North constituency. He was later appointed Foreign
Minister, Minister for Interior and Minister for Water Resources,
Works and Housing, all during the Kufuor administration. He
continues to be patriotic and serves Ghana via his chairmanship of
COCOBOD.

He has been described as one who has the discipline required in
management and handling of fiscal deficits and systems. He is
married to Comfort Owusu Agyeman and the couple have five
children.

144 Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi-Huges was a former Speaker of
Parliament of Ghana. He attended the Cape Coast Government
EBENEZER Boys School and later the Adisadel College. In 1961, he gained
BEGYINA admission to the University of Ghana. Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi-
SEKYI-HUGHES Huges further attended the Ghana School of Law, graduating
with an LLB in 1966. Ebenezer was a private legal practitioner
after being called to the bar.

Ebenezer Sekyi-Huges became the President of the Western
Region Branch of the Ghana Bar Association and later got
elected by the chiefs and the people as the Western Regional
Council of State. He then attended the Ghana School of
Law. Ebenezer has remained loyal to his party despite
several challenges he encountered. He has served in several
capacities as civil servant as well as well as a statesman for
his nation and got elected as the Speaker of Parliament under
the NPP administration, getting in by vote of confidence by the
National Council of Elders.

Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho is a Ghanaian politician, a barrister
and Member of Parliament of Ghana. He attended the Accra
Academy, University of Ghana, and the Ghana Law School
where he was called to the bar.

He worked at the Attorney-General’s Department before
becoming a politician. He has served Ghana well in discharging
his duties as Speaker of the House, becoming the 6th Speaker
of Parliament. He is a politician noted for retaining his seat as
Member of Parliament in order to ensure longer service to the
nation.

As a member of the Pan African Parliament, he helped
promote Africa’s growth, cooperation and reintegration. He
has also served as Acting President of Ghana in the absence
of former President John Mahama and his Vice Paa Kwesi
Amissah Arthur. He is married with five children

EDWARD
KORBLY DOE
ADJAHO

WHO'S WHO 2019

145

Georgina Theodora Wood is the former Chief Justice of Ghana,
born on 8th June 1947. She attended Wesley Girls’ High School
and later proceeded to the University of Ghana and obtained
a Bachelor of Law (LLB). She also took a postgraduate officers
training course at the Ghana Police College and subsequently
worked with the Ghana Police Service as the Deputy
Superintendent for three years.

In telling the story of how she earned the title as the highest
ranked female on Ghana’s political scene, she worked her way up
through the circuit and high courts to serve as presiding judge
at the Appeal Court in 1991. She was appointed to the Supreme
Court in November 2002 and on June 1, 2007 was approved by the
Parliament of Ghana as the first female Chief Justice. She was
honored by ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor with the Order of
Star award in 2007. She retired in 2017 after judiciously serving
the nation. She is married to a retired banker.

GEORGINA
THEODORA
WOOD

James Victor Gbeho is a lawyer, politician and a diplomat who JAMES
rose to the level of President of the ECOWAS Commission through VICTOR
hard work and dedicated service to the nation. He attended the GBEHO
Achimota School and the University of Ghana. He worked on
various diplomatic missions including serving as Deputy High
Commissioner to the Court of St. James, Ambassador and
Permanent Representative of Ghana to the European offices
of the United Nations in Geneva, as well as Ghana’s Permanent
Representative to the United States. He served twice as
President of the United Nations Security Council. These missions
afforded him the luxury of traveling through countries like the
United Kingdom, Switzerland, China, Nigeria, Germany, India, and
many others.

Through his service to the nation, he worked as the Minister
of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for the Anlo
constituency between the years 1997 and 2005. He also served as
a foreign policy advisor to the government of the late President
John Evans Atta Mills. Mr. Gbeho is a true statesman who showed
excellence in diplomatic and international relations. He is married
to Edith Wutah-Ofei and they have three children.



Ghana’s
Traditional
Leaders

148 Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama II is the overlord of Dagbon and
successor to Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani II, who lost his life in 2002 in
YAA NAA clashes that led to sixteen years of conflict in which the funeral for
ABUBAKARI the late chief could not be held or a successor chosen. Following
MAHAMA II mediation by the Committee of Eminent Chiefs led by Otumfuo Osei
Tutu II, Asantehene, an amicable settlement was reached between
OSEADEAYO the two royal families of Abudu and Andani and peace returned
AKUMFI to Dagbon. Ya Naa Mahama II was born to Yaa Naa Mahama II and
AMEYAW IV Duhili Ayishetu, daughter of Kulunkpe-Naa Abukari in 1939. He is a
grandson of Yaa Naa Andani II and a paternal uncle to late Yaa Naa
WHO'S WHO 2019 Yakubu.

His ascendancy to the highest office of Dagbon was in accordance
with the Dagbon Constitution of 1930 and a Supreme Court decision
of December 1986 that ordered that only occupants of the gate
skins of Mion, Karaga and Savelugu are eligible to contest the
kingship of Dagbon. The Kuga-Naa, Abdulai Adam; the Gushie Naa
and two other kingmakers after consulting the oracles to guide
them in the choice of a right candidate, through the time tested
Dagbon customs and traditions in the process of selecting a new
Yaa Naa settled on him as the new occupant of the Gbewaa Palace.

He had earlier been appointed to the Kpunkpuno skin near Yendi in
the late 1990s and then to the Gate skin of Savelugu as paramount
chief in 2011. The Yaa Naa is a prominent farmer and mentor to
many farmers in northern Ghana.

Nana Akumfi Ameyaw IV is a lawyer, agriculturalist, teacher and
a traditional ruler of one of the oldest Akan states in the country
– Techiman Traditional Area. He is the 40th occupant of the
Bonokyempem Duaduakwa Stool of Techiman. Oseadeayo Ameyaw
had his secondary education at the Sunyani Senior High School and
Adisadel College before proceeding to the University of Cape Coast
where he obtained his bachelor’s degree. He then entered the
field of banking where he impressed with his professionalism and
diligence on the job. He held several positions in the field, including
serving as Chief Manager of the state-owned Ghana Commercial
Bank Limited.

While working as manager at the Twifo Praso branch of Ghana
Commercial Bank, Osabarima Dotobibi Takyia-Ameyaw, Omanhene
of the Techiman Traditional area passed on to eternity and the
search began for his successor. Kwaku Osei Mensah, as he was then
known, was among those eligible for the position and impressed
the kingmakers as having the right mix of professionalism, vision,
competence and knowledge and respect for traditions to perform
the role of a modern monarch. Nana Ameyaw accepted the
challenge and in May 2004, was duly enstooled as the Omanhene
of Techiman, from which position he has sought to influence the
course of his people through relentless advocacy and the execution
of some social infrastructure projects.

Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI is the traditional Head of Osu 149
Paramountcy. Osu is one of the major towns in the Ga state as well
as a commercial and social hub. Until 2009, the Osu Christianborg NII OKWEI
Castle was the seat of Ghana’s government. The town still hosts the KINKA
bulk of the government’s administrative structure, including most DOWUONA VI
of the ministries of state. This makes Osu and its paramountcy of
extreme importance. In keeping with its stature, Nii Dowuona has
sought to represent the best of Osu since his ascension to the royal
throne. The trained banker had worked for over two decades with
what is now Soceite General Ghana bank. Keenly aware of his role,
he has pursued further education on the subject of leadership and
chieftaincy most significantly a Degree in Chieftaincy Leadership.

In addition, Nii Dowuona is a graduate from the Cambridge
University Intentional and holds a Certificate from African
Transformational Leadership Institute, USA; Member of Pan
African leadership Initiative Boston; and, Member of the African
Chieftaincy Transformational Leadership institute Boston. The
fruits of his extensive studies are showing an under his leadership
the Osu Paramountcy has enjoyed the peace and unity needed for
socio-economic development of the community. Nii Dowuona is
acknowledged by his subjects as having changed for the better,
the face of the traditional institution of chieftaincy at Osu while
bringing tangible transformation and development to the Osu
Traditional Area. Aside his duties as a traditional ruler, he is also a
successful entrepreneur.

Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II is the Omanhene of Sefwi Anhwiaso OGYEAHOHO
Traditional Area, a prominent paramaountcy in the Western North YAW
Region. He is also the current president of the Western Regional GYEBI II
House of Chiefs, the body that brings together paramount chiefs
from around the country. As regional president, it is his role to lead
mediation efforts in chieftaincy and other conflicts that might arise
in the region, while also representing the region at the national
assembly of the august body.

Known in private life as Francis Kofi Adjei, he first trained as
a teacher at the Sefwi Wiawso Teacher Training College, now
Sefwi Wiawso College of Education. After teaching for a while, he
proceeded to the University of Cape Coast where he pursued a
Bachelor of Commerce degree in addition to a diploma in education.
He also qualified as a chartered accountant. To enable him better
perform his role as a lead mediator and chieftaincy and traditional
conflicts, Ogyeahoho Gyebi also studied for and obtained an
Executive Master’s degree in Alternative Dispute Resolution.

His education and training make him one of the avatars of modern
progressive chieftaincy anchored not only on hereditary assumption
but also on administrative competence and developmental vision.
In May 2017, he was appointed to the seven-member board of the
Ghana National Petroleum Corporation by President Nana Addo
Dankwa Akufo Addo, further recognition of his skills and insight.

150 Nana Kobina Nketsia V is the Paramount Chief of the Esikado
Traditional Area in the Western Region. He is also a scholar, writer,
NANA speaker and passionate advocate for pan-Africanism and African
KOBINA unity. Nana Nketsia had his early education at Mfantsipim School in
NKETSIA V Cape Coast before proceeding to the University of Ghana, where he
NANA studied for a degree in modern history. He travelled to Nigeria for
OHUNABOBRIM further studies, earning a Doctor of Philosophy degree in African
PRAH History from the University of Calabar with a thesis on the Oron.
AGYENSIAM While in Nigeria, he helped found the Akwa Ibom Forum on National
Issues (AKFON) and the Historical Society of Nigeria.

Nana Nketsia taught at the University of Cape Coast and has written
a critically acclaimed book, “African Culture In Governance And
Development, The Ghana Paradigm”. He has very strong views on
Pan-Africanism, African Culture and Religion, and Governance, Law
and Philosophy which he often shares in thought provoking public
interactions and feature articles published in the mass media.

He is currently chairman of the Advisory Committee of Care
International (Ghana); Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum Governing
Board; Water Aid (Ghana); National Patron of the ATUU Festival of
Arts; and Director of Pan African Festival (Panafest) Foundation. He
is also Chairman of the Nana Kobina Nketsia IV Trust and Dr. Robert
Memorial Mitchell Foundation and serves on the Advisory Board
of Care Ghana, all of which are non-profit organizations. He is the
Board Chairman of the African Career Centre (ACC) and responsible
for providing leadership and direction from the governance and
strategic dimension.

Nana Ohunabobrim Prah Agyensiam, born Wellington E. Jonah is
the Paramount Chief of Assin Owerenkyi Traditional Area in the
Central Region.

He had his University education in Business Law at the Metropolitan
University, London. After graduation, he worked with Arnold and
Son (Exporters) in London for a year as the company's secretary.
Nana returned to Ghana to work with the Ministry of Trade as Legal
Officer.

Nana is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana and a barrister at
Law. During his career, he served as a Consultant to PMI and Asante
Mining Ghana Limited, Board member of Maxam Ghana Limited,
Board member of Bayport Ghana Limited, Member, Council of
State – Ghana (Constitutional Presidential Advisory Board), Board
Chairman of Perseus Mining Ghana Limited, Executive Chairman
of Industrial and Engineering Service Ghana Limited and Former
Board Chairman of Tema Development Foundation.

At senior management level, Nana Ohunabobrim Prah Agyesiam has
more than 40 years’ experience both in Public and Private sector.

WHO'S WHO 2019