Board of Trustees

Prof. Gyimah-Boadi is a co-founder and Executive Director of Afrobarometer, a pan-African survey research network, tracking public opinion on political, economic and social developments in African countries. He founded and for 20 years served as Executive Director of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), a leading policy think tank and advocacy group on democratic governance and inclusive development in Ghana. He was also a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana, Legon. With MA and PhD from the University of California and a BA from the University of Ghana, he has held teaching positions and fellowships in US universities and research institutions. He has undertaken numerous consultancies and written commissioned reports on African/Ghanaian political and economic reforms for a wide range of international agencies, including African Development Bank, Economic Commission for Africa, UNDP, DFID, USAID, GIZ, and Transparency International. He was an advisor on German President Horst Kohler’s “Partnership with Africa Project” from 2006 to 2008. He is a fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Democracy; International Advisory Group of the Institute for Integrated Transitions (Barcelona); and Advisory Council of the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (London); among others.

Paul Sowley joined Newmont Ghana in August 2009 as Regional Manager, Environmental Affairs. In August 2011, he accepted the position of General Manager, Environment and Social Responsibility for the Ahafo Mine; he currently is the Senior Director for Sustainability and External Relations for Newmont Africa, providing leadership, oversight, management and support at a regional level. With over 25 years in the mining industry, Paul has a wide range of experience within the Ghanaian Mining industry as well as International experience in coordinating mine related Sustainability and External Relations programs in Mali, Guinea and Tanzania. He holds an Executive MBA at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management and Technology from Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography and Resource Development from the University of Ghana.

Baah Wadieh is a former Acting and Deputy Government Statistician providing strategic direction for the periodic review of the legal and institutional framework of the Statistical service and the National Statistical System. He was the acting Government Statistician responsible for providing technical and operational direction for the implementation of programs and activities related to the directorates of the service. He acquired his first degree in Geography from the University of Ghana and his second degree in Regional Planning from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He further did a post graduate diploma in Development Planning Techniques (with computer Applications) from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, Holland.

Naana Dontoh was a former Chief State Attorney with over 35 years’ experience, particularly, in negotiation of several international agreements, arbitration, public service policy formulation and management. She holds multiple degrees in LLB (Bachelor of Laws) and MA in International Relations from the University of Ghana. She is also a qualified lawyer, (Barrister at Law) from the Ghana School of Law. She has undertaken several international training programs, home and abroad.

Frank has over 25 years in construction and project management and 15 years’ experience in Management of Construction Project Procurement, Contract Administration and Project Supervision, Preparation of Tender and Contract Documents and Evaluation of bids, Materials Procurement and Management and Cost Control, General Administration of Project Office and Quantity Surveying. He was a Consulting Quantity Surveyor with Messrs’ Avangarde Design Services and Quantity Surveyor with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Director, Project Designs Solutions Limited and Chief Executive Officer of Momentum FAF Ghana Limited. He acquired his first degree Building Technology from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. He further did his MSc in Procurement Management at the Kwame University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.

A distinguished senior Graduate Teacher with wide range of experiences in Human Relations and management. He has proven leadership skills involving development and motivating groups and individuals to achieve set objectives. Experienced teaching at all levels of education including the University and Education office for over 25 years. Dr. Attafuah holds a PhD (Sci.Edu.) from the University of Education, Winneba, an M Phil (Sci. Edu., 2008) from the University of Education, Winneba as well as B Ed (Hons, Sci. Edu., 1999) also from the University of Education, Winneba.

Elisha is a fellow member of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (FCCA) with twenty years of professional experience in Financial Accounting, Financial Management, Internal and External Auditing and Corporate Restructuring and Corporate Governance. He is a versatile team player and leader who actualizes the concept of value addition at optimal cost. Elisha is also a self-motivated, independent-minded and objective individual with a track record of efficient, effective and unblemished professional performance; a computer literate with competency in installation, training and usage of customised financial and operational applications for Financial Management Information System (FMIS). He also holds an Executive Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). Elisha has served and continues to serve on various Corporate Boards and National Governance Committees including the Finance Board of the Church of Pentecost and the Audit Committee of the National Sports Authority.

Derek Boateng is a results-oriented strategist and leader. He possesses a strong track record in optimizing sustainability performance in Health, Safety, Environmental Management Systems, and Community Development. His strong leadership skills in sustainability management systems and risk control strategies are applicable across a wide spectrum of industries for reducing project/operational risks, impacts, cost, changing behaviors, reducing liabilities, protecting shareholder/stakeholder value, and optimizing business, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance. He has over 19 years’ experience executing international best practice management systems that have optimized business performance, reduced project and operational risks, impacts and liabilities while protecting shareholder and stakeholder value. Current Role: Senior Manager, Sustainability & External Relations – Akyem Mine and is responsible for Environmental Management, Social Responsibility, Systems & Services and Community Relations Professional Experience: He possesses over 19 years of diversified industry experience in Mining, Infrastructure, Sub-surface Rail Engineering & Construction, and the UK National Health Service with brief assignments in the United States and Guinea, West Africa. Prior to joining Newmont, his role at Metronet Rail – UK included among others, collaborating with subject-matter experts to develop appropriate health, safety, environmental risk mitigation strategies for the multi-billion pound Public Private Partnership (PPP) – Infrastructure projects. Educational Background & Interests: Executive Education – London Business School (LBS) – Finance for Non-Finance Executives Executive Education – Harvard Business School (HBS) – Corporate Social Responsibility: Strategies To Create Business And Social Value MSc. – Environmental Epidemiology & Policy – London School Of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) with Health Economics at the London School Of Economics (LSE), UK. BA (Hons) – Development Studies and Geography – School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) – University of London, UK. NEBOSH Diploma and Certificate – The National Examination Board in Occupational Health and Safety (NEBOSH) – UK. He is a trained Lead Auditor in Social Management Systems, a full member of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (MIIRSM), and a Graduate member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health – UK. He has keen interest in Community and Social Investment, Political Economy of Development, Environmental Affairs and Public Health. He enjoys reading and playing amateur golf. He attended the Presbyterian Boy’s Secondary School, Legon.