Afriyie Oware is the co-founder and CEO of Axis Pension Trust, a prominent player in the pensions industry. He comes with over 18 years work experience in the field. His expertise spans various facets of investment management gained through hands-on roles in institutional funds management, scheme administration, private wealth management, business process engineering and business development. Beyond his professional endeavors, he is also passionate about promoting financial literacy and helping individuals and families achieve their best financial lives. He is a regular speaker at church financial evangelism and enjoys guiding individuals to develop simple strategies for achieving their financial goals. Afriyie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Ghana and an MBA from the Said Business School at the University of Oxford.

Alice is a Strategy and Transactions Partner at EY. She has over 22 years of experience practicing in Ghana and the United Kingdom. Her area of expertise cuts across Business Valuation, M&A Advisory, Due Diligence, Financial Modelling, Feasibility Studies and Corporate Finance Advisory. She provides these advisory services to both private and public clients across Private Equity, Banking and Capital Markets, Energy (Oil and Gas, Power and Utilities) Consumer, among others.  Alice is a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) and a member of NACVA USA, She is also a Chartered Global Management Account (GCMA) and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountant (CIMA, UK) and a holder of the Ghana Security Industry Certificate from the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE).  She holds an MBA in Corporate Finance from the University of Leicester, UK and a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) from the University of Cape Coast. She is a passionate capital connector and keen about delivering value to clients. She is also committed to advancing the Finance profession in Africa and beyond. She represents Africa on the Valuation Credential Board (VCB) of NACVA USA.

Amma Gyampo is an African Ecosystem Builder committed to mentoring on programmes with Ashesi University and Founder Institute Ghana as well as an Advisor to Pan-African Entrepreneurial development initiatives like https://www.africanscalecraft.com/team-advisors. Amma brings operational, strategic, programme management, business analysis, risk management and stakeholder management to her work with social enterprises and small-medium sized businesses – particularly in the Agriculture, Digital and Creative sectors.  As a Board / Advisory Board member to several organisations, she supports  the management of strategy – communications, stakeholder management, socio-environmental, gender and innovation in particular. She is co-founder of ScaleUp Africa which helps large, global organizations achieve stronger Impact, ESG, Sustainability, Economic Development and Innovation outcomes through the design and implementation of strategic initiatives. ScaleUp Africa designs and implements SME and Gender focused programmes for Access Bank, Mastercard Foundation, GIZ and the EU. One of the star judges on European Union funded, GHOne TV entrepreneurship show, “The Circular Economy Competition”, Amma’s career spans 20 years across EMEA Region with myriad consulting projects including Strategic Advisory, Board Member and Programme Management roles for:

• TROTRO Tractor – Contract Farming, Regenerative Agriculture and Mechanization Services
• Ghana’s National Taskforce on Impact Investing: (Impact Investing Ghana)
• Reach for Change (Global Advisory Board)
• Maanch UK (Impact Advisory Board)
• BlackBerry
• Vodafone
• Ghana’s Ministry of Youth and Sports: Ministerial Sub-Committees on Youth, Sports Tourism, Job Creation, Gender, Social Innovation, Entrepreneurship

Her work has been featured in BBC, Business Insider Africa, Quartz Africa, Forbes, Africa.com and Entrepreneur.com. 

Amma Lartey is CEO of Impact Investing Ghana (IIGh), the Ghana National Advisory Board for Impact Investing, and a member of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investing. IIGh is a platform representing all the stakeholder groups needed to redirect significant capital flows toward social and environmental impact in Ghana – bringing together leaders from the worlds of finance, business, government, social organizations, and philanthropy.  Amma has led organizations in the US, Ghana and across Africa. She led the Africa region of Reach for Change – a Venture Philanthropist that runs accelerators, incubators, and hubs for social enterprises in key growth markets including Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia Rwanda, Tanzania, DRC and Chad, and currently serves on the board of Reach for Change, Ghana.  Amma is an accredited trainer for the SDG Impact Standards where she helps organizations integrate sustainability and the SDGs into their operations. She is an experienced executive coach and trainer with a mission to help leaders increase their impact and personal development. Over the past sixteen years, she has coached leaders and supported teams to help over 3000 entrepreneurs launch, grow or scale.  Amma graduated with a BA from the University of Ghana and an MBA from Babson College. She is a fellow of the Africa Leadership Initiative-West Africa and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Anita Solomon is the Head of Business Development Services at the  Development Bank of Ghana. Her role involves driving business growth  and establishing strategic partnerships for the bank’s development  finance initiatives. With a Bachelor’s degree in English and Sociology and  a Master’s degree in Development Administration and Planning, she  brings a deep understanding of human behavior and strategic planning.  Anita’s experience in investment management and human capital management equips her well for the complexities of development finance. Her  commitment to positive change and organizational development makes  her an asset to the bank’s objectives. She aspires to become a domain  expert and leader in development finance, driven by her passion for  socio-economic impact.  Beyond work, Anita enjoys exercise, travel, cooking, and baking. Family is  central to her life, with two children named Yaa and Kofi who inspire her.  Anita’s determination, expertise, and personal interests position her as a strong professional and nurturing mother, on her way to becoming a  respected leader in development finance while finding joy in her personal  pursuits. 

An Agricultural Finance, SME & Impact Investment Expert with extensive experience of over 25 years in West Africa, particularly Ghana. Barbara has experience and skills in SME investments and agricultural financing; grants structuring and management; project analysis and evaluation; feasibility studies and business planning; strategy development and implementation support, management and operations reviews; due diligence reviews and project appraisal; business valuation and financial analysis. She has worked extensively with agribusinesses and women-led SMEs in Ghana and other West African countries, notably Sierra Leone and Liberia, and across various value chains and industries. Barbara has successfully facilitated access to finance and provided business development services for several agribusinesses and SMEs including early-stage businesses. Over the years she has also developed and maintained extensive networks both formally and informally with several partners and stakeholders, among government, private sector and international development organisations.

Charles A. Adongo (PhD) is a social scientist and impact measurement and management specialist with over a decade of experience in multiple sectors and countries. With a background in data, economics, and development policy, Charles has worked on projects in Africa, Europe, and the MENA region for the private sector, governments, and donor agencies, including projects funded by the USAID, Global Affairs Canada, GSG, UNHCR, GIZ, and Solidaridad, in support of public policy and global development. He was the co-principal investigator for the current report.

Clara is a seasoned Development Practitioner and currently serves as the Program Manager for WUSC’s Volunteer Cooperation Program in Ghana. With over 15 years of professional experience, she possesses a broad spectrum of expertise spanning Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, Gender and Social Inclusion, Food Security, Financial Services and Financial Inclusion, Entrepreneurship/Business Development Services, Organizational Development, Cooperative Development, TVET, and Volunteer Management. Her approach is characterized by leveraging market systems and system-thinking approaches to uplift marginalized communities, placing a strong emphasis on effective stakeholder engagements and result-based management practices. Clara’s leadership style is marked by facilitating training sessions, process improvement workshops, and quality assurance assessments, thereby ensuring continuous staff capacity building and the attainment of impactful project outcomes. She is deeply passionate about driving positive behavior changes, promoting sustainability through process enhancements, and achieving tangible impacts in development initiatives. Clara is dedicated to advancing effective, efficient, and quality service delivery through the implementation of gender-sensitive, culturally appropriate, and responsive policies and programs.  

David Ganesha Tetteh is a Senior Consultant to the Ghana Investment Support Program (GhISP) which is funded by British International Investments (BII).  He is a Financial Markets Consultant with expertise in investment banking, fund management, securities trading, fintech, private capital markets and market development. He is the CEO and founder of Bargane Holdings Limited, a company with holdings in Financial Services, Agribusiness, Energy and Technology.  Prior to founding the company, David worked in the West African Capital Markets – public and private securities for 20 years. He led several equity and debt capital raising transactions across the banking, insurance, agri-business and real estate sectors.  David holds an Executive Education Certificate from the Oxford University Said Business School and an MBA from the University of Ghana Business School. 

Derrydean Dadzie is a powerhouse in African technology, leading the charge in Science, Technology, Innovation, and Research (STIR). Renowned for his expertise in Fintech and Digital Transformation, his remarkable 15-year career positions him as an undisputed authority and visionary leader in these pivotal domains. In 2007, fresh from Ashesi University, Derrydean co-founded DreamOval Limited, an emblematic Ghanaian tech startup. As its CEO, he steered DreamOval’s remarkable growth, expanding its influence beyond Ghana’s borders. Transitioning from DreamOval, he assumed the CEO role at the Ghana Chamber of Technology. Here, his indomitable drive saw the development of robust tech markets and influential policy frameworks, setting the stage for Ghana’s tech resurgence. Derrydean’s expertise extends far beyond executive roles. He has relentlessly championed the cause of innovation, digital transformation, and fintech through consultancy and directorship roles in organisations dedicated to Africa’s advancement. In his latest endeavour, Derrydean founded The Heritors People (THP) LLC — an ethical consulting firm at the nexus of Ghana’s STIR Economy and Africa’s Digital transformation. He also set up Heritors Labs LLC, a hub dedicated to developing solutions and services that would drive innovation and research and shape the future of technology in Africa. Derrydean’s vision is clear and powerful: to make Science, Technology, Innovation, and Research (STIR) the bedrock of Africa’s economic renaissance. His profound impact on technology, fintech, and digital transformation is a testament to his staunch dedication to Africa’s rise as a global tech leader.

Dr. Victor Antwi is an accomplished agribusiness development and SME expert with 35 years of experience in Investments, Strategic and Financial analyses, Research, Subsector/value chain and Supply chain analyses and linkages, Institutional strengthening, Community and Enterprise development, Trade, Marketing, Rural and Business development in 16 countries. He has conducted various feasibility studies, built complex financial models as well as strategic and business plans, and implemented projects in agro input distribution, production, processing and export potential of wide spectrum of products as well as projects in financing agribusiness development. Dr. Antwi worked as Deputy Chief of Party for the USAID Financing Ghanaian Agriculture Project (USAID FinGAP) from 2013 to 2018 and headed the project’s Agribusiness Opportunities Development Unit. Before joining the MFA Activity, he worked as Head of Input Distribution and Agro-Dealer Development at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) from 2018 to 2020. He also worked in various capacities with TechnoServe as well as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s Food Research Institute (CSIR-FRI). He has implemented projects in the oil palm, cocoa, cashew, mango, rubber, shea, rice, sorghum, maize, tomato, cassava, chili, soybean, and fish value chains. Dr. Antwi holds an MBA from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, a Bachelor of Science degree, an MPhil and a PhD in Chemical Engineering obtained from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. For further information contact: Dr. Victor Antwi, Chief of Party: victor.antwi@thepalladiumgroup.com  Caroline Tsikata, Communications Manager : caroline.tsikata@thepalladiumgroup.com    MFA Contact: GhanaMFA.Info@thepalladiumgroup.com ; +233 302 795 162