PROF. STEPHEN ADEI - CHAIRMAN

Professor Stephen Adei, Companion of the Order of the Volta holds a PhD in international economics (University of Sydney, Australia), MSc in development economics (University of Strathclyde, UK), BSc economics (University of Ghana), Bachelor of Divinity (UK), Master of Theology (University of South Africa). He is a chartered marketer, chartered company secretary and has a diploma in marriage counselling. He has expertise in leadership, governance, public management, finance, economics, marketing and marriage counselling.

Since 2013 has been with Ashesi University College where he is currently Dean of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Leadership and Economics, after being with Pentecost University College, Accra from 2009 to 2013.

Between January 2000 and December 2008, Prof. Adei was director-general and Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). Under his leadership, GIMPA was transformed from a small, under-resourced and subvented institute into the most successful organisation under the government of Ghana’s public sector reforms. 

Prior to that he was head of the United Nations System in South Africa (September 1994-February 1995), UN Development Programme Resident Representative in Namibia (1995-1999), senior economist and chief of the directorate of the Africa Bureau, UNDP, New York (1989-1995); senior economist of the Commonwealth Secretariat, London (1986-1989) and staff member of the Capital Investments Board (now Ghana Investment Promotion Centre - GIPC) rising to deputy director and head research (1973-1985).  In 1971, he was an assistant economist in the Ministry of Finance of Ghana. He has taught economics at the University of Ghana and University of Sydney and undertaken several consultancy assignments.

Prof. Adei has served on several national and international bodies including: board chairperson of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation; board member, Kofi Annan Centre for Excellence in Information and Communications Technology; president, Chartered Institute of Marketing (Ghana); member, Global Foundation of Management Education (Montreal, Canada); member, Council of the Association of African Public Administrators and Management (AAPAM); board member, Commonwealth Association of Public Administrators and Management (CAPAM); president, Ghana Red Cross Society; member, Environmental Protection Council; and member, Advisory Board of the Ministry of Finance. He is currently chairperson and/or member of several institutions, companies and not-for-profit organisations including the Judicial Council, Accra College of Medicine and Ghana Christian International High School (a top-rated school which he co-founded with his wife, Mrs. Georgina Adei) .

He is the author and co-author of more than 20 books and 8 book chapters. He has also written more than 100 articles, keynote addresses and papers.  

PROF. EMERITA TAKYIWAA MANUH - VICE CHAIR

Professor Takyiwaa Manuh is Emerita Professor of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon. She was Director of the Social Development Policy Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 2014 to 2017. Before then she was Professor of African Studies at the University of Ghana where she also served as Director of the Institute of African Studies between 2002 and 2009. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in law from the University of Ghana, Legon, and the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and a PhD in anthropology from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.

Professor Emerita Takyiwaa Manuh has practiced as a lawyer and is active in the women’s movement in Ghana and Africa. She serves on the boards of several international, continental and national organisations including the Governing Council of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), at the University of Sussex, UK; the Society for International Development (SID); Advisory Board, European Union Evidence and Research Facility for the Horn of Africa; Advisory Board, African Portal, based at the South African Institute of International Affairs, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Editorial Advisory Board, Migration and Society; International Network on Migration and Development (INMD); Media Commission for West Africa. She has also served as president of the Scientific Committee of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and board chair, ABANTU for Development.

She has also been a member of the External Advisory Panel of the United Nations Population Fund, New York; the Governing Council of UNESCO's International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), Paris; West and Central Africa Regional Advisory Council of the Canadian International Development Research Council (IDRC); and a Commissioner of the National Development Planning Commission between 2010 and 2014.

Professor Emerita Manuh has published widely in books and peer-reviewed journals on African development; women’s rights and empowerment; contemporary African migrations, and African higher education systems, and has provided consultancy services for several local and international organisations.

She is a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, and has received several awards including the University of Ghana’s Meritorious Service Award for 2007, Ghana’s Order of the Volta (Officer Class) in 2008, and an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Sussex, UK, in 2015.

DR. GRACE BEDIAKO - Ag. Director- General

HON. KEN OFORI-ATTA - Minister of Finance

Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta is an investment banker by profession and current Minister of Finance at the time of his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission. As an investment banker, he worked with Morgan Stanley and Salomon Brothers on Wall Street in New York, USA, before co-founding the Databank Group, an investment banking firm in Ghana. He was the executive chairman from 1990 until his retirement in 2012. He was the first African to testify at the US Congress Ways and Means Committee to support the African Growth and Opportunity Act. He was twice honoured by PricewaterhouseCoopers Ghana as one of the top 5 most respected CEOs in Ghana.

He holds a BA in economics from Columbia University in New York and an MBA from the Yale School of Management, Connecticut. He was the first African to be honoured as a Donaldson Fellow at Yale University in 2010, a John Jay Fellow at Columbia University in 2011 and also a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute, in 2000, all in the USA.

Mr. Ofori-Atta has served as board chairperson of Trust Bank Ltd. in The Gambia and board member of Family Ventures and Offices, Ghana; International Bank of Liberia; Bank of Kigali, Rwanda; Enterprise Life, Ghana; and pan-African Databank AgriFund for SME Agribusiness with investments in Madagascar, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Ethiopia.

DR. ERNEST KWAMINA YEDU ADDISON - Governor, Bank of Ghana

Dr. Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addision is an economist by profession.  He is currently the Governor of the Bank of Ghana at the time of his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission. 

He previously worked at the Bank of Ghana as head of the Research Department. He has worked with the West Africa Monetary Institute and was also a lead regional economist for the African Development Bank.  

Dr. Addison is an economics graduate from the University of Ghana, Legon. He holds an MPhil in economics and politics from the University of Cambridge, England and a PhD in economics from McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

PROF. SAMUEL KOBINA ANNIM - Government Statistician

Professor Samuel Kobina Annim is a professor of economics with specific concentration on micro development economics and applied microeconometrics. He is currently serving as the Government Statistician.

Prior to his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), he had earlier worked at the University of Manchester and University of Lancashire, both in the United Kingdom, in the respective capacities of research associate and post-doctoral researcher, following completion of his doctoral studies. He currently lectures at the University of Cape Coast Department of Economics and heads the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) at the same university.

Prof. Annim holds a BA in economics from the University of Cape Coast, an MPhil in economics from the University of Ghana, a certificate of completion in a microfinance training programme at the International Labour Organisation International Training Centre, Italy and a PhD in economics from the University of Manchester, UK.

He  has provided professional services to institutions such as the Ghana Statistical Service, NDPC and several international bodies. He has over15 years teaching experience and more than 40 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and technical reports to his credit.

HON. PROF. GEORGE GYAN-BAFFOUR - Minister of Planning

Professor George Gyan-Baffour is a development economist by profession and current Minister of Planning at the time of his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission.

He is currently the Member of Parliament  for Wenchi, and has served on various committees of Parliament, including ranking member for the trade, industry and tourism committee, education committee, poverty reduction committee and acting chairperson of the special budget committee.

Prof. Gyan-Baffour is a former Director-General of NDPC, where he oversaw the preparation of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (2003-2005). He introduced the the Annual Progress Report, the first monitoring and evaluation mechanism for assessing national development. He also supervised the preparation of the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies of Ghana (2002-2012). He was appointed Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning from March 2005 to December 2008 and led the team that prepared the first agreement under the Millennium Challenge Account.

He holds a PhD in industrial relations from the University of Wisconsin; a postdoctoral diploma from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; an MA in economic policy from the University of Wisconsin, all in the USA; and a BSc (Hons) in economics from the University of Ghana. He is a member of the Chartered Economists of Ghana.

HON. ALAN JOHN KWADWO KYEREMATEN - Minister of Trade

Mr. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen is an economist, lawyer and management consultant by profession and currently the Minister for Trade and Industry at the time of his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission.

He has an extensive and distinguished record in international development and public policy, trade and enterprise development, politics and diplomacy

His previous appointments include Cabinet Minister of Trade, Industry and Presidential Special Initiatives; Ambassador of Ghana to the United States of America; United Nations Economic Commission for Africa senior policy advisor on trade; UN Development Programme Regional Director for Enterprise Africa; chief executive officer of Empretec Ghana Foundation; and a senior corporate executive of Unilever-Ghana. In 1994, he was listed as one of the top 100 leaders in the world for the new millennium by Time International Magazine, New York, United States

Mr. Kyerematen is a graduate in economics from the University of Ghana, and a qualified Barrister-at-Law (Ghana Law School). He was awarded a Hubert Humphrey Fellowship from the University of Minnesota, USunder the US Fulbright Fellowship Programme.

DR. OWUSU AFRIYIE AKOTO - Minister of Food and Agriculture

Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto is an agricultural economist by profession and current Minister for Food and Agriculture at the time of his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission.

He was previously an economist, senior economist, principal economist and chief economic advisor over a period of 18 Years at the International Coffee Organisation in London, England. He also consulted for the World Bank and the United Nations on soft commodities (cocoa, coffee and sugar). He was the chief executive officer of Goldcrest Commodities Ltd, Accra, Ghana. and CEO of Plantation Resources Limited, Ghana from 1995 to 2008.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto has a  BSc in agriculture from the University of Ghana, an MSc and PhD in agricultural economics from the University of Cambridge, England.

He is a two-term Member of Parliament for Kwadaso constituency and while in Parliament from 2009 to 2012, served as the deputy ranking member for the committee on food, agriculture and cocoa affairs. He was substantive ranking member for the same committee from 2013 to 2016.

HON. HAJIA ALIMA MAHAMA - Minister of Local Government and Rural Development

Hajia Alima Mahama is a lawyer and development practitioner by profession and current Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. She had 13 years of experience as senior planner and gender/development coordinator for the Northern Region Rural Integrated Programme.

Between 2001 and 2008, she served first as Minister of Women and Children Affairs then Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, and Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. In the latter position, she directed and coordinated the development of the comprehensive policy and plan of action on decentralisation for Ghana, and was responsible for the World Bank-supported Urban Infrastructure Development Programme.

Hajia Alima holds a BA in law and sociology from the University of Ghana, and was called to the Bar in 1982. She has a postgraduate diploma from Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA and the University of Ottawa, Canada in public policy and development planning and administration. She obtained her Masters in development studies from the Institute of Social Studies, the Hague, Netherlands.

She is the Member of Parliament for the Nalerigu/Gambaga constituency, haven been elected as MP for the constituency since 2005. 

DR. MATTHEW OPOKU PREMPEH - Minister of Education

Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh is a surgeon by profession and current Minister for Education at the time of his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission. He  worked as a doctor in Ghana and in the United Kingdom as a surgeon and is a member of the UK Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.

He graduated in human biology and medicine at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and got a Masters in clinical epidemiology at the Institute of Health Sciences, Rotterdam, Netherlands. He furthered his studies at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA, where he studied leadership and government.

Dr. Prempeh is currently Member of Parliament for Manhyia South constituency and was previously the MP for Manhyia constituency. In Parliament, he has served on committees such as health, appointments; special budget; and environment, science, technology and innovation.

HON. KWAKU AGYEMANG MANU - Minister of Health

Mr. Kwaku Agyemang Manu is a chartered accountant by profession, Member of Parliament for Dormaa Central and current Minister of Health at the time of his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission. He previously worked as an accountant at Mim Timber Company Limited and was a director of finance at Toyota Ghana Limited. In the 2000-2008 period, he was a Deputy Minister of State in the following ministries: Trade and Industry; Interior; Finance; Communications; and Roads and Transport.

Mr. Agyemang Manu has served on the boards of institutions such as the Small Arms Commission of Ghana, the Ghana Revenue Authority, Bank of Ghana, and the Divestiture Implementation Committee.  He was also the acting chief executive officer of the National Health Insurance Authority in 2006.

He holds a BA in economics and statistics, and is an associate chartered management accountant.                             

HON. PROF. K. FRIMPONG BOATENG - Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation

Professor K. Frimpong Boateng is a cardiothoracic surgeon by profession and current Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation at the time of his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission.

He had previously worked as a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and a pioneer of the heart transplantation programme in Hannover, Germany. In 1985, he was recognised as the first black person to perform a heart transplant. He returned to Ghana in 1989 to establish the National Cardiothoracic Centre and the Ghana Heart Foundation.  He is a former chief executive officer of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, past president of the Ghana Red Cross Society and immediate past-chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission.

He graduated from the University of Ghana Medical School in 1975 with an MB, ChB, and qualified as a general surgeon, and cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon after postgraduate studies at the Hannover Medical University, Germany in 1978.  

Prof. Frimpong Boateng was honored by the Millennium Excellence Foundation in 1999 as Personality of the Decade. He received an African Heroes Award, presented by Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, USA, in 2012.

HON. CYNTHIA M. MORRISON - Minister of Gender, Children & Social Protection

Ms. Cynthia M. Morrison is a certified public accountant by profession, currently serving as the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection at the time of her appointment to the National Development Planning Commission. She was previously Controller of JTECH, Suwanee, US and a corporate controller and vice-president of Employers’ Insurance Company of Nevada (EICN), USA and Employers’ Compensation Insurance Company (ECIC), both subsidiaries of Employers’ Holdings Inc. 

She has held several senior corporate executive positions in Fremont, Ohio; KPMG, Arizona; and Insurance Accounting and Systems Association, North Carolina, all in United States.

Ms. Morrison received a BS degree from Arizona State University, USA; a BA from Lafayette College, Louisiana and an MS from New York University all in in accounting. She is a Fellow of the Life Management Institute, Atlanta, Georgia. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the Insurance Accounting and Systems Association (IASA).

HON. JOHN PETER AMEWU - Minister of Energy

Mr. John Peter Amewu is a cost engineer by profession and current Minister of Energy at the time of his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission. With his broad knowledge in the energy and mining industry, he was the co-founder of the Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP) and also its director of policy and research where he provided comprehensive policy-related advice to support a variety of government and private sector projects.

Mr. Amewu holds an MBA (Finance) from the University of Ghana,  a postgraduate degree (Executive MBA in international energy industry management) and Masters in petroleum law and policy from the University of Dundee, United Kingdom.

He has served as chairperson of the board of directors of major private institutions in Ghana and an international consultant in mining and petroleum. He is currently the regional chairperson of the New Patriotic Party in the Volta Region.

HON. IGNATIUS BAFFUOR AWUAH - Minister of Employment and Labour Relations

Ignatius Baffuor Awuah is an administrator by profession and current Minister of Employment and Labour Relations at the time of his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission. 

He previously worked as the operations manager at Nsoatreman Rural Bank, 1996-2001; Municipal Chief Executive of Sunyani from 2001 to 2005, then Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister between 2005-2006. Subsequently, he was appointed in 2006 as the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister.

Mr. Awuah is a graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon, where he obtained a BSc in administration (accounting option). He also holds a postgraduate diploma in management from International Professional Managers Association, England, UK, and a certificate in civil service management from Galilee College, Nahalal, Israel. 

He has been the Member of Parliament for Sunyani West since 2009, and while in Parliament, he has served as deputy ranking member for finance, member of the local government committee, a member of the committee on environment, science and technology, and also the second deputy whip of the Minority in Parliament.

AZUMAH NAMORO SANDA - Northen Region

Mr. Azumah Namoro Sanda is a teacher by profession and  former Member of Parliament for Chereponi constituency in the Northern Region, prior to being appointed to the National Development Planning Commission. As a professional teacher, he taught in many basic schools in the Northern Region and subsequently became headmaster of Wonjoga Junior High School at Chereponi.  He was District Coordinator for School For Life, a non-governmental organisation at Saboba in the Saboba/Chereponi District.  

As an MP, he served on the education and the gender, women, children and social protection select committees of Parliament. He had previously served as chief executive of the Saboba/Chereponi District Assembly after being presiding member of that same District Assembly.  He was also the Assembly member for the Wonjoga E/A and then a general member of the Saboba/Chereponi District Assembly.

Mr. Sanda was awarded a Diploma in Basic Education (DBE) from the University of Education, Winneba in 2005. He has a teachers’ certificate A after attending the Tamale Teacher Training College in 1982, and also obtained a General Certificate of Education in 1982. 

Workshops and conferences he has attended include: workshop for newly appointed chief executives of Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies; workshop on strategic leadership for chief executives of Assemblies; managing change and leading issues in public sector management; Ghanaian-Danish Community Programme Training in Rural Project Planning; and European Union Human Resources Development Programme skills building for Assembly members.

CAPTAIN KWABENA ADU - Western Region

Kwabena Adu is a marine captain by profession. Prior to being appointed a member of the National Development Planning Commission, he is a marine surveyor on contract with the Ghana Maritime Authority. He worked as a ship master (captain), sailing to major seaports in Africa, Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia. During this period 1995-2002, he obtained International Ship Management Certification for two Iranian ships and sailed a ship to both Singapore and Malaysia drydocks respectively.

Captain Adu has a certificate in pre-sea training from the Ghana Nautical College. He received the 2^nd Officer’s Certificate of Competency and Chief Officer’s Certificate of Competency from the College of Maritime Studies, Southampton, United Kingdom, between 1974 and 1980,. In 1993, he was awarded a Certificate of Competency Class One by the Regional Maritime Academy in Accra, Ghana. His other certificates include maritime and coastguard administration, fire fighting and fire prevention, first aid at sea, proficiency in medical care, orientation training for new managers, global maritime distress and safety systems and advanced fire fighting. 

He has attended international conferences of the International Maritime Management Organisation on maritime safety in London; inauguration of the Monrovia Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Morovia and the 2^nd African Union Conference of Ministers Responsible for Maritime Transport, Durban, South Africa. He was the chaiperson of the committee that investigated the sinking of the MV 4^th Republic at Akosombo in November 2009. He was elected as an Assembly Member of the Sefwi Wiaso District Assembly and from 2002 to 2006, served as the presiding member.

LUCY OWUSU-ANSAH - Ashanti Region

Mrs. Lucy Owusu-Anasah is a development planner by profession. Prior to her appointment to the National Development Planning Commission, she was on retirement having served as the regional economic planning officer for the Central Region. She joined the civil service in 1981 as an assistant economic planning officer at the Regional Coordinating Council, Kumasi. She rose through the ranks to become regional economic planning officer for Ashanti Region; chief economic planning officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly sand director of policy, planning, monitoring and evaluation (PPME) of the Ministry of Defence.

She received a Commonwealth Executive Masters degree in public administration and a BSc in planning from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, as well as a postgraduate diploma in development economics from Institute of Studies for Economic Development, Napoli, Italy.

Ms. Owusu-Ansah has participated in several workshops including: workshop on monitoring and evaluation (Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development); International Local Visitors Leadership Program on Local Government Administration and Public Private Partnership, Department of State, USA; Training of Local and Regional Economic Development Facilitators (Kumasi, Ghana) and a World Bank/GIMPA Workshop on Consulting Services (Accra, Ghana).

PROF. NANA BERKO-BOATENG - Eastern Region

Professor Nana Berko-Boateng is a scientist by profession. Prior to being appointed to the National Development Planning Commission, he was a member of the New Juaben Economic Development Board. He has served as board chairman of the Lands Commission, Cocoa Research Institute, and the Koforidua Technical University in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

He has extensive international and local experience as a professional engineer, a researcher in polymer development and a lecturer. He has taught at the Chemistry Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and as a part-time lecturer at the School of Business and Engineering, State University of New York, USA. He has also worked as principal engineer and chairperson of the Innovation Opportunity programme at Xerox Corporation in the USA where he originated the Trash-to-Cash programme. During this period, he was involved in research and development in materials and environmental science management, recycling of plastics, recycling polymer products and improved recycling alternative methods to handle items such as waste toners. 

Prof. Berko-Boateng graduated from Howard University, Washington DC, USA in 1974 with a BSc in chemistry. He got an MSc in chemical engineering (specialising in polymer science and engineering) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA, and a PhD in material science and engineering from the University of Rochester, New York, USA.

ROBERT AKURUGU AJENE - Upper East Region

Robert Akurugu Ajene is an educationist by professioon. Prior to being appointed a member of the National Development Planning Commission, he was on retirement, having pioneered the establishment of Bolgatanga Polytechnic in the Upper East Region.

Mr. Ajene has served at regional, national and international levels throughout his career. He was on a Ghana/USSR  Joint Commission for Cooperation to revive all former USSR projects in Ghana, where he spearheaded the educational sector projects. As a biology examiner for the West African Examinations Council, he was on the International Biology Panel that wrote the biology syllabus.

He holds a professional diploma in education from the University of Cape Coast and a Bachelor of Science in zoology from the University of Ghana.  

Mr. Ajene has been on many boards and committees including: Zoomlion board of Directors in the Upper East Region; Bolgatanga Regional Hospital Advisory Board; and the Upper East Regional Health Committee. He has in the past served as a member of the Managing Trustees of Directors (VALCO Trust Fund), the Council of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; Upper East Regional Consultative Council; and the Upper East Region Steering Committee of the District Assembly Capacity Building Project (DISCAP, a Canadian NGO working on the supply of water for the three northern regions). Other positions include Regional Director of Education, Eastern Region, and Regional Director of Education, Upper East Region.

DAVID QUAYE ANNANG - Greater Accra Region

David Quaye Annang is an agricultural economist by profession. Prior to being appointed as a member of the National Development Planning Commission, he was a consultant to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, Africa Region to assess the socio-economic impact of the fall armyworm invasion in Africa. Between 2002 and 2005, he has served as a policy analyst, under National Institutional Renewal Programme in the Policy Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit at the Office of the President. During this period, he chaired the planning committee for the NEPAD/G8 Agricultural Conference held in Accra in May 2005. He has served in various public capacities, notably as chief executive (Mayor) of Tema Metropolitan Area from 2005 to 2009.

He has over 30 years’ experience as a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) expert, policy analyst, public administrator and a research coordinator. His professional activities include serving as a lead local consultant for monitoring and evaluation (M&E officer) with responsibility for designing an M&E system for the implementation of the Cashew Development project funded by the African Development Bank.

Mr. Annang holds an MPhil in agricultural economics and a BSc. (Hons) in agricultural economics from the University of Ghana. He has a postgraduate diploma in public sector management jointly organised by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration and Galilee College, Israel. He also has a certificate in integral project cycle management, Ed-Wagnengen, Netherlands; certificate in programme evaluation technique for practitioners, World Bank; and a certificate in project analysis and project management and evaluation United States Department of Agriculture, Washington DC, USA.

ISAAC KWADWO AMANKWAH - Brong-Ahafo Region

Mr. Isaac Kwadwo Amankwah is an architect by profession. Prior to being appointed a member of the National Development Planning Commission, he was chief executive officer of IKA Consult.  

He has supervised architectural projects both in Ghana and Nigeria. He has worked as project manager for various jobs such as: Social Investment Fund (SIF), Village Infrastructure Project (VIP), and Community-Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP). [MAN1] He was principal architect for Kay Tee Associates in Nigeria (1985-1988); Building Projects Development Group in Nigeria (1981-1985); and architect for Interbuild in Ghana (1980-1981).

Mr. Amankwah received his certificate and BSc in design and postgraduate diploma in architecture all from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology between 1974 and 1980.

The positions he has held in his career include: board member of the Nsoatredam Rural Bank Ltd.; chairperson of the Brong Ahafo Lands Commission; member of the National Lands Commission; and presiding member of the Sunyani Municipal Assemmbly.

OKATAKYI DR. AMANFI VII - Central Region

Dr. Sampson Edusah, known by his stool name as Okatakyi Dr. Amanfi VII of the Asebu Traditional Area, Central Region, is a development expert by profession. Prior to being appointed a member of the National Development Planning Commission, he was a senior lectuerer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where he became the director of the Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD). Okatakyi Dr. Amanfi VII has had national assignments such as being team leader of the Ministry of Trade and Industry Impact Assessment of Rural Enterprise Project. He was also a team member of the World Bank Group Global Environmental Facility (GEF) project on the nature and role of local benefits in GEF programme areas. In terms of chieftaincy, he was elected vice-president of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, a position he has held for eight years, and has been a member of the Regional House of Chiefs since 2004.

Okatakyi Dr. Amanfi VII holds BA in industrial Arts and MA in education, both from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a PhD in development studies from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom.

He has served on various boards and committees including: the Timber Validation Committee, Forestry Commission, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources; chairperson of the development committee, Central Regional House of Chiefs; Research Committee, National House of Chiefs; board of governors, Aggrey Memorial Senior High School, Cape Coast; and the judicial committee, National House of Chiefs.

PROF. CLETUS DORDUNOO - Volta Region

Professor Cletus Kwashi Dordunoo is an economist. Prior to his appointment as a member of the National Development Planning Commission, he was the chief executive officer at ClayDord Consult, part of ClayDord Enterprises Ltd. (a knowledge-based group of enterprises). His experience covers both lecturing and consulting.

He was an economic consultant at Chase Econometrics and Lawrence Personnel in Philadelphia, USA, and later became a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast and University of Ghana. He has served as an advisor to the Ministry of Finance on a World-Bank sponsored project; a resident economist at the Institute of Economic Affairs; policy analyst and macroeconomist for an International Labour Organisation Umbrella Programme on Employment; and a research associate at the International Monetary Fund (Research Division, Washington DC in 1995-1996).

Prof. Dordonoo graduated from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana with a BA (Hons) in economics and a diploma in educational planning in 1980. He obtained his Masters in econometrics in 1984 from the University of Pennsylvania, USA. At Temple University, also in Philadelphia, he received another Masters in economics (finance and development) in 1986 and a PhD in economics.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers; Chartered Institute of Taxation; American Economics Association; University Teachers’ Association of Ghana and Ghana National Association of Teachers. He has served on several boards both locally and interntionally including:  chairperson of the board of directors, First Fund of FirstBanC Financial Services Ltd. (2009); Revenue Agencies’ Governing Board from 2003 to 2008; and Management Board of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration from 1994 to 2000.

NAA PUOWELE KARBO III - Upper West Region

Naa Puowele Karbo III is the Lawra Naa/Paramount Chief of the Lawra Traditional Area, a position he has held since 2009. He has over 33 years of experience in development planning, administration, policy formulation and coordination at the local, regional and national leves across the country. Prior to his appointment to serve on the National Development Planning Commission, he had been the Chief Executive Officer for Suokole Consults since his retirment from the Public Service.

Naa Puowele Karbo III was the National Director of the Town and Country Planning Department from 2002 to 2008. He also seved as the Metropolitan Director, Town and Country and Planning for Accra Metropolitan Assembly between 2000 and 2002. Between 1982 and 2000, Naa Puowele Karbo functioned as the Deputy Director of Town and Country Planning Department in Bolgatanga, Wa, Koforidua, Tamale and Accra. He has had experience lecturing at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). He had provided consulting services to international and local institutions including Switzerland Embassy and Institute of Local Governmenet Service (ILGS).

He holds a BSc. in Planning  from KNUST and a Post Graduate Certificate in Public  Administration from GIMPA.

Naa Puowele Karbo III is a Fellow of the Ghana Institute of Planners (FGIP). He also serves on a number of committees including the Research Committee, National House of Chiefs and a member of the Upper West Regional Lands Commission.

ALFRED KWASI OPOKU - Spatial Planning (Institute of Planners)

Mr. Alfred Kwasi Opoku is a development planner and a demographer with over 35 years of experience. Prior to his appointment to serve on the National Development Planning Commission, he had been the director and lead consultant for JEAVCO Associates Ltd since 2000; lead consultant and managing director of CEPAD Ltd. in 1995-1999; and associate consultant at Nkum Associates from 1992. Mr. Opoku is a Fellow and the President of the Ghana Institute of Planners, and a member of the Commonwealth Association of Planners and Union of African Population Studies (UASP).

He was a research fellow and training coordinator at the Land Administration Research Centre (LARC), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and also technical advisor and project monitor at the Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD), KNUST, for EU Micro Projects between 1983 and 1987.  He has provided consultancy services to international and local organisations including Food and Agricultural Organisation, World Bank, European Union, DANIDA, Netherlands Embassy, and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. In related jobs, he has partnered institutions such as the  University of Greenwich and IMC Worldwide all in the UK.

Mr. Opoku holds an MA and MPhil. in demography from the University of Ghana; a BSc in development planning from KNUST; a certificate in results-based monitoring and evaluation (M&E) from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration; and a certifcate in governance in urban santation from United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). He has published several papers and reports on subjects ranging from water supply systems in Ghana, urban migration and rural development, to urbanisation in Ghana and managing the urban housing crisis.

DR. ANTHONY YAW BAAH - Social Sector (Labour)

At the time of his appointment to serve on the National Development Planning Commission, Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah, an economist by profession, is the Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). In 2008, he had served as TUC Deputy Secretary-General. Between 1997 and 2008, he was the Director, Research and Policy for the TUC. He has been a part-time lecturer for the post-graduate certificate in labour policy studies, Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Cape Coast since 1999. He also served as an associate tutor at the Economics Department, University of Sussex between 2002 and 2005

With his extensive experience as an economist, he is a member of several boards and committees, including the Ghana Statistical Service Board, National Pensions Regulatory Authority, Presidential Committee on Emoluments and the Technical Committee on Public Sector Pay Reform.

Dr. Baah holds a PhD in economics from the University of Sussex, UK, an MSc in financial economics from the Norwegian School of Management, Oslo, Norway, and a BA Hons in economics with French from the University of Ghana. He also holds a diploma in tarining policy analysis from ILO International Training Center, Turin, Italy.

He has published several papers on trade and on the labour market. He is a member of the National Tripartite Committee; the management committee of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana, Legon; and the Public Service Joint Standing Negotiating Committee.

DR. KWADWO ADJEI TUTU - Economist/Extractive Industries

Dr. Kwadjo Adjei Tutu is an economist by profession and an independent consultant with over 22 years of experience in teaching and research for national and international organisations. Prior to his appointment to serve on the National Development Planning Commission, he was a part-time senior lecturer at the Economics Department, University of Ghana. He was also a part-time senior economist at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) between 2010 and 2011. Between April 2009 and June 2009, Dr. Tutu was appointed acting Chief, Environment and Sustainable Development section (ESD) of the Food Security and Sustainable Development Division (FSSDD) of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. He also served as the environment and development officer of ESD between 2000 and 2009.

He has worked as a senior and visiting lecturer at the Department of Economics, University of Ghana and the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) in Nairobi. He has also provided research and consultancy services for organisations such as the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, International Labour Organisation, AERC and Environmental Protection Agency among others.

Dr. Tutu holds a PhD in economics and an MA in economics and natural resource economics from Cornell University, Ithaca, USA. He also has MSc and BSc degrees in economics from the University of Ghana. He has published several papers on sustainable development, environmental economics, and climate change. He is a member of professioinal organisations such as the World Association of Economists of Self-Management and the Network for Environment and Sustainable Development in Africa (NESDA).

DR. MARGARET ATUAHENE - Social Sector (Health)

Dr. Margaret Atuahene is a senior lecturer, planner, researcher and a health professional with international experience. Her professional assignments include: principal investigator with Harvard University on optimal support systems funded by the United Kingdom Department for Internatioinal Development (DFID).

Between 2006 and 2016, Dr. Atuahene was a lecturer, researcher, and supervisor at the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, responsible for overseeing the grading of students in their reserch and field work. She served as a Director (NAPKIN Project – Health Planning and Administration) at Cabrini Medical Center, New York, USA between 2003 and 2006. She was also the Director for Women, Infants and Children’s Health at Open Door Family Health Center, USA, between 2000 and 2003.

Dr. Atuahene holds a PhD in public health from the University of Ghana, Legon; an MEd in public health and nutrition from Columbia University, New York; an MPH in population/maternal child/reproductive family health also from Columbia University; an MA in international development from Ohio University, USA; a post-graduate diploma in community health from Wageningen Agriculture University, Netherlands; and a BSc in home economics-nutrition from Oregon State University, USA  .

She is a member of the American Public Health Association, American Dietetic Association, National Cancer Steering Committee-Ghana and Nutrition Ghana. She has received numerous awards, honours and fellowships including Honors-Deans’ List from Oregon State University, Graduate Assistantship Award from Ohio University, and Loyal Service to Mothers and Children from the New York State Department of Health.

DR. NII KWAKU SOWA - Private Sector (Economist/Investment)

Dr. Nii Sowa Kwaku is an economist by profession and Country Director for the International Growth Center in Ghana. Prior to his appointment to serve on the National Development Planning Commission, he was Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Between 1985 and 1995, Dr. Kwaku rose from leccturer to senior lecturer and head of the Department of Economics, University of Ghana. He has worked as an economics consultant to several international organisations including the World Bank,  United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UN-ECA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the British Department for International Developemnt (DfID).

He is an experienced lecturer and has worked as a visiting lecturer and researcher in various institutions including the Department of Economics, University of Warwick, UK; Centre for the Study of African Economies (CSAE), University of Oxford, UK; and Department of Economics, McMaster University, Canada.

Dr. Kwaku holds a PhD in economics from McMaster University, Canada; an MA in economics from Queen’s University, Canada; and a BA (Hons.) in economics/mathematics from the University of Ghana. He is a member of the Economic Society of Ghana, West African Economic Association and African Economic Research Consortium.

He has several publications to his credit, mostly in the areas of money and banking and economic policy management. He has also contributed to several national and international publications.

DR. PETER CLAVER ACQUAH - Environmental Science/Infrastructure

Dr. Peter Claver Acquah is a scientist and an environmentalist. Prior to his appointment to serve on the National Development Planning Commission, he was an environmental consultant for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa between 2011 and 2015. From 2003 to 2010, he was Secretary of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment and Deputy Regional Director for Africa, United Nations Environment Programme. He served as executive director of Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency and Environmental Protection Council between 1994 and 2002. He was Project Director for the Ghana Environmental Resource Management Project between 1994 and 1998, and Director of Monitoring and Evaluation for the Minerals Commission of Ghana from 1986 to 1994.

Dr. Acquah also has extensive experience as a tertiary-level lecturer, having worked as a full-time or part-time lecturer at Bendel State University and Federal University of Technology, Owerri, both in Nigeria, and at the University of Ghana. He has several publiactions to his credit.

He holds a PhD in mineral resource engineering, and an MSc and diploma in mineral process design from Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London, UK. He also has certificates in environmental management from the University of Lulea, Sweeden.

Dr. Acquah is a member of several professional bodies including the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, International Association Impact Assessment, New York Academy of Science, Geological Society of Ghana. He is a Fellow of the Ghana Institution of Geoscientists, and has represented Ghana at many international fora and conventions on mining and global environmental issues.

DR. YAW ANSU - Development Economist

Dr. Yaw Ansu is an economist by profession and senior policy advisor to the Minister of Finance at the time of being appointed as a member of the National Development Planning Commission. He is a member of the Ghana Beyond Aid Charter Committee and head of the technical team supporting the Charter Committee. Formerly, Dr. Ansu was chief economist for the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) from 2010 to 2017. He was principal author of “An Economic Growth and Transformation Strategy for Ghana, 2018-2057,” a report commissioned from ACET by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) as input for the long-term national economic development plan.  

He has held several management positions at the World Bank. Between 1984 and 2010, he served as Country Director (Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe); Director, Human Development Department of the Africa Region; Director Economic Policy; Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network (PREM) and Head of the Sector Board for World Bank Economists; Economic Advisor, Office of the Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist of the World Bank.

Dr. Ansu has a BA in economics from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, US,  as well as an MSc and PhD in engineering economic systems from Stanford University, California, US. He is a member of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development; Initiative for Policy Dialogue; Global Consortium for Research on Economic Structural Transformation (GReCEST); and INCLUDE Knowledge Platform on Inclusive Development Policies. He has participated in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Initiative for Policy Dialogue on Global Chains, Production Transformation and Development.

Ing. DR. ROBERT ADJAYE - Environmental science/Infrastructure

Dr. Robert Adjaye is an engineering and management consultant by profession. He is the director of Aurecon Ghana, with over 40 years’ experience, about 20 years of which were spent in the oil/gas and energy industry. He has extensive experience in policy and infrastructural development; contract and procurement reviews; public sector/institutional reform; and public financial management inter alia. Prior to his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission, he was Rector of the Petroleum Skills Developement Institute.

Dr. Adjaye served as [MAN1] the senior lead design engineer and manager for McDermott Engineering, and Engineering and Power Development Consultants (EPDC/BICC/Balfour Beatty), UK. Between 1985 and 1996, he was acting head of department and principal engineer at HQ British Gas Exploration & Production Ltd., UK. He was lead electrical engineer for McDermott Engineering, UK between 1980 and 1985, and chief electrical engineer for CEI Consulting Engineers, UK between 1978 and 1980.

He has an MSc and PhD in electrical power systems from the University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology, UK, and a BSc in electrical engineering from KNUST. He also has diplomas in petroleum management from Henley Management College, Oxford College of Petroleum & Energy Studies, UK, and in accounting and finance from the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants, UK. 

Dr. Adjaye has published several papers on the oil and gas industry in Ghana. He is a member of the Ghana Institute of Engineers; Electrical Committee of the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA); Institute of Electrical Engineers; and the Central Tender Review Board of the government of Ghana, among others.

PROFESSOR ABENA D. ODURO - Social sector (Gender/poverty)

Professor Abena D. Oduro is the Director, Centre for Social Policy Studies, University of Ghana. At the time of her appointment to serve on the National Development Planning Commission, she was the Vice-Dean, Faculty of Social Science, University of Ghana.

Between 2006 and 2015, she was a senior lecturer at the Department of Economics, University of Ghana. She was Project Officer, Human Resource Development, Centre for Economic Policy Analysis, Accra between 1999 and 2001. She has worked as a visiting lecturer at the Council on African Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Prof. Oduro holds an MA (Hons.) in political economy and geography and an MLitt in political economy from the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.

She is a member of several local and international societies and professional bodies. These include the Association for the Advancement of African Women Economists; the Board of Directors, Ghana Statistical Service; and the International Steering Committee, African Social Research Initiative, University of Michigan. She has published several papers on gender and economic issues in Ghana and Africa at large.

NANA (DR.) APPIAGYEI DANKAWOSO I - Private Sector (Entrepreneur)

Nana Dr. Appiagyei Dankawoso I is a Teacher by profession. He is the Omanhene Kyeame of Asante Juaben Traditional Area. He also doubles as the President of Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) and Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is the Vice President of Federation of West African Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Prior to his appointment to serve on the National Development Planning Commission, he had served as the Deputy Manager, Motor Claims Department, Vanguard Assurance Company Ltd, Accra, National Treasurer of Ghana Insurance Brokers Association and Regional Chairman of Greater Accra Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Nana Dr. Appiagyei Dankawoso I has redearched in areas of micro credit and oil palm plantations on livelihoods. He has earned several awards locally and internationally including an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Finanacial Management from Dayspring University, USA. He holds an EMBA in Financial Management from Ghana Institute of Manangement and Public Administration (GIMPA) and a B.A Honors in Social Science from the University of Cape Coast.

Nana is a member of several boards and council including, the Private Sector Development Council (PSDC) of Ghana, University of Cape Coast Business School board; West African Examination  Council, Accra; Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority; Eximbank Ghana and National Petroleum Authority.

NANA OFORIWAA KORANTENG - Development

Nana Oforiwaa Koranteng is a development planner by profession. Prior to her appointment to the National Development Planning Commission, she served as a principal consultant of MIGALS Services Ltd. with over 30 years’ experience in development planning. Her expertise includes the design and management of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems for development programmes, design of agriculture and food security programmes and budget support programs. Ms. Koranteng is a keen advocate of gender equity in the development process. 

She has been a consulting advisor for the Canadian Agriculture and Food Security Development Programme in Ghana since 1999. This has meant active involvement in the design and implementation strategies (including (M&E) of Canada’s food security programmes/projects in the three northern regions of Ghana. She has led the design of Food and Agriculture Sector Budget Support for implementation by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD). With her expertise in farmer-based organisation (FBO) development, she has worked for Australian Aid to provide technical support to the FBO Secretariat in promoting and strengthening FBO capacities in Ghana. She is also a consultant for the University of Missouri Assistance Programme in Ghana.

Ms. Koranteng holds an MSc in survey integration for development, a BSc in development planning, a diploma in rural community development, a postgraduate diploma in multi-disciplinary integrated surveys for resource development planning, and certificates in rural energy planning and in project cycle management. 

She has written a number of papers covering rural development, food security, farmer-based organisations, monitoring for project management, budgetary support for sustainable development, and participatory decision making. Her latest publication is “Akwaaba - Twi for Tourists”, a booklet to help visitors learn some basic Twi and cultural knowledge about Ghana.

PROF. AGNES ATIA APUSIGAH - Social Sector (Education)

Professor Agnes Atia Apusigah is an associate professor in the Department of Development Education Studies, Faculty of Education of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, Ghana. Prior to her appointment to the National Development Planning Commission, she was the founding dean of the Faculty of Education (2013-2018), Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Education, Law and Business Studies (2009-2013) and foundation coordinator of the Gender Mainstreaming Unit (2004-2008), all of UDS.

She has also served as programme coordinator of studies on national and international development of Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario, Canada; guest lecturer in the Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies of the University of Applied Sciences, Düsseldorf, Germany and the Tamale Institute for Cross-Cultural Studies, Tamale, Ghana. She has also been a mentor of the Global Change Leaders Programme of the Coady Institute’s International Center for Women’s Leadership. In addition, she worked in the Ghana Education Service from 1979 to 1989 as a basic school teacher and tutor in a teacher training college.

Prof. Apusigah holds a PhD in cultural studies with curriculum studies from Queen’s University, Kingston, and an M. Ed in curriculum studies from Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, both in Ontario, Canada. She has a B. Ed in educational foundations; a diploma in economics from the University of Cape Coast; a teachers’ diploma from the then Advanced Teacher Training College Winneba (now University of Education, Winneba); and a teachers certificate A (post-middle) from the EP Teachers’ Training College, Bimbilla, all in Ghana.

She has been a member of several governing boards locally and internationally. These include the CLA/CHOICE Ghana, Tamale, Ghana; Regentropfen College of Applied Sciences, Kansoe, Ghana; Technical Reference Group, Agricultural Policy Research in Africa- West Africa Hub, Future Agricultures Consortium; IBIS/Choice Ghana SCALE Ghana Technical Advisory Committee, Tamale, Ghana, among others.  

Prof. Apusigah has published extensively on education studies, gender/women studies, political economy of African development and endogenous development. She was co-founder and editor of the Ghana Journal of Development Studies and Studies on Gender and Development in Africa. She has also been a reviewer for several journals including Gender and Society, Feminist Africa, Agenda Journal, Canadian Journal on National and International Education, European Journal of Social Science and Journal of Agrarian Studies.

She has been a visiting researcher in the Department of Education in the University of Oxford, England, under the Africa-Oxford Initiative. She is currently an Association of Commonwealth Universities/British-Nigerian Education Network Fellow in Education in the Department of Educational Foundations and Curriculum in the Faculty of Education, Amadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

PROF. BILL BUENAR PUPLAMPU - Governance (organizational HR)

Professor Bill Buenar Puplampu is a governance expert and currently Vice-Chancellor of Central University, Miotso, Accra, Ghana. Prior to his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission, he was Pro-Vice Chancellor for academic affairs, Central University  between 2014 and 2017. Earlier, he was a professor at the University of Ghana and then Dean of the Central Business School at Central University.

 He is an experienced lecturer and has worked as a visiting Professor and Scholar for Pan-African University, Victoria Island, Nigeria, University of East London and London Metropolitan University, UK. Between 1990 and 1996, he was a lecturer at the Department of Psychology, University of Westminster and University of East London, UK.

Prof. Puplampu holds a PhD in organisational behaviour and human resource management from the University of East London, UK, an MSc in occupational and organisational psychology from the Polytechnic of East London, UK, and a BA (Hons) in psychology with sociology from the University of Ghana. He also has a certificate in project management from McGill University Executive Institute, Canada; in human resource management in the finanacial sector from Euromoney, UK; practice of management/case-based teaching methods from the Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa and the Global Business Schools Network, Lagos, among others.

He is a member of several professional societies locally and internationally. These include the British Psychological Society; Academy of Management; Africa Academy of Management and the International Association of Applied Psychology. He is a member of the National Insurance Commission and has served on several boards of both private and public organisations. He has several papers, chapters and books to his credit and has contributed to reviewing several conference papers and presentations.

PROF. HENRIETTA JOY ABENA NYARKO MENSA-BONSU - International Relations Expert

Professor Henrietta J.A.N. Mensa-Bonsu is a professor of law at the University of Ghana. She is a Fellow and president (2019-2020) of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, and director of the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy since 2012. She has served on many university boards and committees and is currently on the Appointments and Promotions Committee, Board of the College of Humanities (2016-2020) and the Appointments and Promotions Committee, Board of the College of Education (2016-2020) at the University of Ghana as the Assessor for Humanities.

Prof. Mensa-Bonsu has researched and published extensively on criminal law and criminal justice, family law and international law. She has been a visiting lecturer at a number of European and American universities, and teaches criminal law, jurisprudence and conflict resolution theory and practice at the University of Ghana School of Law.

She has served in a number of high-level national and international capacities. In Ghana, she was a member of the National Reconciliation Commission (2002-2004);  the Ghana Police Council (2006-2008) and the Medical and Dental Council. At international level, she was the ECOWAS nominee on the International Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC) for the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission; member of the Organisation of African Unity Committee of Eminent Jurists  on the Lockerbie Case; and the African Union Committee of Eminent Jurists  on the Hissène Habré case. In 2007-2011, she was Deputy Special Representative for Rule of Law in the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL); and was appointed by the UN Secretary-General to the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations in 2014-2015. She continues to serve as a civilian mentor to both the ECOWAS and UN Senior Mission Leadership Courses.

Prof. Mensa-Bonsu holds an LLM from Yale University, USA, an LLB from the University of Ghana School of Law, and was called to the Ghana Bar in 1982. She has participated in many international conferences and workshops on peacekeeping and the rule of law, and in local conferences and workshops, many of which she chaired.  

PROF. JOSEPH MAGNUS FRIMPONG - Spatial Planning (Transportation)

Professor Joseph Magnus Frimpong is a professor of finance at the School of Business, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He is an economist and  business consultant with wide international experience in mathematics, economics, finance, econometrics, research, entrepreneurship and business consulting. He is also a director of successful businesses including Juaben Oil Mills Limited, Juaben-Ashanti; Akomadan Rural Bank; and Ashanti and Global Investment Bankers Limited, Ghana.

Prior to his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission, Prof. Frimpong was Acting Dean of the KNUST School of Business. In  2007, he was appointed Vice-Dean of the KNUST School of Business. He was head of the Department of Accounting and Finance, KNUST School of Business, between 2007 and 2015. From 2011 to 2015 he was the professorial representative of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences on the Academic Board of KNUST.

He holds a PhD in finance from KNUST, an MSc in Project Analysis, Finance and Investment from the University of York, England, and a BA (Hons) in economics and law from KNUST. He has a teachers’ diploma in mathematics from the University of Education, Winneba and a teachers’ certificate A from Wesley College, Kumasi-Ashanti. He also has qualified overseas teacher status in England.

As a business consultant, Prof. Frimpong has facilitated many training programmes and workshops on small and medium enterprise (SME) growth and microfinance. His areas of concentration include impact assessment, institutional capacity building, business planning, entrepreneurship skills and risk management for SMEs and microfinance institutions.

He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation, UK, and a Doctoral Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Financial and Investment Analysts, Ghana and Canada. He has numerous journal publications to his credit on economics and finance and his work is cited in some finance textbooks.

PROF. YAW AGYEMAN BADU - Governance (Institutional Reforms)

Yaw Agyeman Badu is a professor at the School of Public Service and Governance, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). Prior to his appointment to the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), he was the senior capacity building advisor for the Partnership for Education Project in Ghana funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) between 2016 and 2017. He was also the senior training advisor for IBI International responsible for providing training and technical assistance to the Governance and Economic Management Support Project funded by USAID in Liberia between 2014 and 2015. Between 2013 and 2014, he was the interim Associate Dean/MBA Director of the College of Business at Delaware State University, USA.

Earlier, Prof. Agyeman Badu served as the Rector and Deputy Rector (Provost) and Dean of the Graduate School at GIMPA. He was appointed by the President of Ghana to serve as an NDPC Commissioner between 2009 and 2014. He also served as Department Chair, Department of Economics and Finance, Virgina State University, USA between 1995 and 2001. From 1981 to 1984, he was a research fellow at South Carolina State University, USA. His extensive professional experience has earned him honours and awards including Ukrop’s Supermarket School of Business Outstanding Faculty Award and a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to attend Summer Serminar for College Teachers at the University of Rochester, New York, USA.

He holds a PhD in international studies, public administration, and public policy and a Master’s in public administration from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA as well as a BA (Hons) in economics and political science from the University of Ghana.

Prof. Agyeman Badu has provided consultancy services to several international and national organisations. He has participated in many international and national research projects, including Strengthening South-South Cooperation among ECOWAS Member States. He was lead writer of the private sector competitiveness section of Ghana’s Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II, 2006-2009).

He has several journal papers to his credit and has contributed to several international, regional and national publications.