Three fellows of Africa Leadership Initiative (West Africa) have been appointed Ministers in Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government.
They are Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, Attorney-General Gloria Akuffo and Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. A fourth fellow, Reginald Yofi Grant, has been named acting Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre.
ALIWA is part of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, which promotes ethical leadership around the world. Fellows are encouraged to initiate or adopt projects to help build a good society.
“We’re delighted to see you in Ghana’s cabinet,” said a statement signed by its Ghana directors Kwaku Sakyi-Addo and Esi Ansah. “We trust that your leadership qualities will shine through and make an impact within the government, and help steer Ghana and its citizens towards their destiny of greatness,” the statement said.
Mr. Ofori-Atta co-founded ALIWA as a leadership development project 15 years ago with Peter Reiling, an American citizen who headed Technoserve in Ghana at the time. The Initiative has since been replicated in East and Southern Africa, Central America, Middle East, China and India, and forged a global network with leadership initiatives in the North America with the support and oversight of the Aspen Institute in the US.
Other fellows in the West Africa Fellowship who have served in public office include Nigeria’s current Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, and former Communications Minister Dr. Omobola Johnson, as well as Ghana’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Hannah Tetteh, and Gender and Social Protection Minister Nana Oye Lithur.
There are 58 Fellows in Ghana including the Founder of Ashesi University – Patrick Awuah, CEO of Multimedia – Kwasi Twum; Rev. Kofi Ankama-Asamoah, MD of FC Group of Companies – Grace Amey-Obeng, Google Country Representative – Estelle Akofio-Sowah, lawyer Sheila Minkah-Premo, tech-preneur Kofi Dadzie; Prof. Audrey Gadzekpo, and leadership coaches Albert and Comfort Ocran.
The Africa Leadership Initiative (West Africa) is a non-partisan network that promotes values-based leadership, and has the positive transformation of society at its core.