Following my ACCA qualification, I joined KPMG Ghana in 1995 as audit senior and rose through the ranks to assistant audit manager in 1998 when I left for Ashanti Goldfields. Arguably, the acquired KPMG core values have been instrumental and spurred me onto more senior positions. Due to my fluency in both English and French, I had the benefit of writing and translating proposals for jobs in the West African region while working for KPMG. Moreover, I managed the audit of international development projects funded by DANIDA, NDA, WARDA and USAID in Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger, Mali, Senegal and Guinea.

Subsequently, as financial controller of Ashanti Goldfields Company for six years, I was responsible for financial leadership and development of the finance teams in eighteen (18) African countries. This provided me with extensive knowledge and experience of culture, regulatory, statutory and fiscal regimes as well as business contacts of African countries. This experience proved quite useful when I was appointed as chief finance officer of Cluff Gold Plc, a UK company with operations in both Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire.

Again, in the various senior management roles of business and financial consultant, commercial, head of audit and risks from 2004 to 2016 with Banro Corporation of Canada, I was involved in the setting up and management of four exploration and mining development operations in then war torn areas of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Banro management’s decision to purchase goods and services locally, build local infrastructure and invest in schools and hospitals have provided with significant social impact on the lives of people in both rural and urban areas.

In 2001, I founded and managed Pinefields Ghana Limited, a 450 acre pineapple producing and exporting company. At its peak, Pinefields employed seventy five workers and operated with ten pineapple outgrowers in the rural areas of Awutu in the Central Region of Ghana and exported pineapples to Switzerland and Germany weekly. I also set up Eden Vale Hotel and Executive Training Centre in Accra, to provide residential executive and managerial training to executives and business leaders from West Africa.

I am a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and an associate member of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). With more than twenty years’ experience gained from roles in advisory services, internal audit, risk management, financial control and management, treasury and supply chain, I will bring extensive business development skills and African experience to lead and develop business of KPMG as the role demands. The various roles outlined on the CV have also helped me to develop the skills of effective communication, strategic thinking and planning, facts analysis and problem solving.

My PhD research on culture, government policies and economic development of Ghana considered key relevant factors for international development, especially in Africa. I am confident that the research and my professional experience stand in good stead for this position as I will bring on board in-depth understanding and insights gained on factors impacting and influencing international development in Africa.