Kwesi Ahwoi

MR KWESI AHWOI has exhibited unique qualities of leadership and public service throughout his entire career, characterized by an outstanding organizational ability, team-building capacity, innovativeness and inspiring drive.

From January 1994 to date, Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi has been the Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, responsible for strategizing the mobilization of both local and foreign direct private investments into Ghana.

Since 1971, Mr. Ahwoi has served in various positions that have critical bearing on Ghana's economical management and external trade including: serving as Economic Researcher with the National Planning Commission; Executive Secretary of the Ghana Export Promotion Council; Member of the Ghana Cocoa Board Oversight Committee and Director General of the Ghana Trade Fair Authority.

Mr Ahwoi currently serves on numerous Boards and Committees in Ghana, key among which are: Chairman, Ghana Trade Fair Company; Chairman, CASHPRO Co. Ltd., the largest private sector commodity trader in Ghana; Member, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Board; Member, Ghana Free Zones Board; Member, National Development Planning Commission; and Member, National Economic Management Team - Ghana.

On the international front, he has participated as a resource person in many international conferences and workshops relating to International Trade and Investment. Mr. Ahwoi has served as technical expert to the International Trade Centre, UNCTAD/GATT, Geneva. He has organized and led several outgoing Trade and Investment Promotion missions. He is currently the President of the Association of African Investment Promotion Agencies (AFRIPA) and the President of the Hubert H. Humphrey International Fellowship Alumni (Ghana Chapter).

He has traveled extensively around the globe.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics, Geography and Education from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana and Certificates in Planning and Resource Management, GIMPA, Ghana; and University of Maryland, College Park, USA under the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program, USA.

Had his Secondary education at Prempeh College, Kumasi - Ghana ('O' Level) and St. Augustine's College, Cape Coast - Ghana ('A' Level).

Mr. Ahwoi has publications in Corporate Planning and Human Resource Development to his credit

A family man, born on 17th November 1946, he is married to, and has seven children with Mrs. Ewura Abena Ahwoi.

He plays Tennis, is adept at scrabble and draughts and loves music.

Mr. Ahwoi conceived, architectured and directed the "National Cocoa Evacuation Programme" in 1982, a programme which succeeded in clearing every useful locked-up cocoa bean from 1979-82 from Ghana's hinterlands to the ports for export.

Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi co-authored, designed, and directed the implementation of the "Akuafo Cheque System" launched in 1982. This is a bank-based payment system for rural cocoa farmers aimed at rural savings mobilization - on-going to date.

Mr. Ahwoi originated, designed and instituted the "Ghana Exports Award Scheme" in 1989, a performance based award scheme to induce commitment to export business in Ghana - on-going to date.

He also originated, designed and executed "The Ghana Export School" in 1989/90, a trade-training, human resource development project, on-going to date Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi conceived, designed and instituted in 1989/90 the "Export Production Village Programme", a rural based export products development programme - on-going to date. Mr. Ahwoi designed, negotiated and initiated the implementation of the 100 million Austrian Schillings (USD 8.0 million) Credit line for the value-added non-traditional export sector in Ghana in 1990.

Mr. Ahwoi organized, hosted and directed the 1996 ECA Conference in Ghana on "Reviving Private Investments in Africa". He also originated, designed and instituted in 1998 the "Ghana Club 100", a public listing of the Top 100 Ghanaian Corporate performers, to market Ghana's Corporate Capacity

Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi organized, coordinated and hosted the "5th African-African American Summit" in Accra in 1999, as Chairman of the Planning Committee.