Dr. Ken Kwaku, Honorary Consul - General, Ghana -Tanzania
English: Biography of Dr. Ken Kwaku From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Dr. Ken Kwaku (born May 18, 1946) is an international investment promotion expert with several decades of professional experience. His experience and professional contribution to the development of the African continent are tremendous. He has served in various capacities both locally and abroad. Mother - Madam Rebecca Rosebud Agroh (1925 - 2009) Madam Rebecca Rosebud Agroh was born on 5th May, 1925 to the late Jonathan Brandsford Agroh of Have Agorme and Mrs. Maria Agroh (Nee Tsitsimboe) of Vakpo Kpodzi. She attended primary and secondary schools in Ho, Amedzofe and Peki where she was in those days often the only girl among the boys. In Peki however, she enjoyed the company of the late Mrs. Esther Ocloo (Nee Nkulenu), the renowned female entrepreneur of her time. After a brief stay in Hohoe as a nurse and as a teacher, she joined the then Department of Social Welfare and Community Development in 1954. She was very dedicated to her work and retired from the Department of Community Development in May 1988 with the rank of Assistant Director. Madam Agroh remained very sensitive to the needs of women particularly rural women throughout her professional life. She believed in the education of women and therefore, ensured that rural women in particular acquired basic education and skills that will make them financially and economically independent to contribute to the well – being of their families and the growth of the nation at large. It is therefore not surprising at all that her dear son, Ken established a foundation in her honor to continue her quest for women’s development. Her work and passion for women’s development took her to many parts of Ghana including Kete Krachi, Worawora, Jasikan, Ho and Tsito, all in the Volta Region, Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, and Madina in the Greater Accra Region. She also went beyond the borders of Ghana doing consultancies for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Between 1976 and 1978, she worked as a consultant with women in Lesotho, Swaziland, South Africa Homelands and Israel. As part of her desire to constantly improve her own skills, Madam Agroh took several courses in Mass Education and Community Development at the University of Ghana and Connecticut College, in New London, USA; she was a dedicated professional with a high sense of integrity and accountability. Father - Mr. Tennyson Emmanuel Kwaku (1924 - 1994) Mr. Tennyson Emmanuel Kwaku was born on 13th December, 1924 and died on 21st November, 1994. His father, Mr. Francis Elliot Kwaku was an Mfantsipim and Achimota trained teacher. He was the second born of 4 children – Matilda, Tennyson, Samuel and William. As did his other male siblings he had his secondary education at Achimota School from where he proceeded to do his inter BA in the newly established University College of the Gold Coast in 1948. At Achimota School, his class mates included eminent Ghanaian scholars like Alex Kwapong (first indigenous Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana), R.R Amponsah (Minister under the Second Republic), and K.B Asante (Secretary to Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah) among others. He also served as a government agent (District Commissioner) in the Keta District before proceeding to England to read law which he did at the Middle Temple Inns of Court. He returned to Ghana in 1957 having qualified as a solicitor and a barrister and the first Ghanaian attorney with specialization in transport law. He was in private practice primarily in Accra at the Bethesda Chambers with such prominent lawyers as Advocate Apatu - Plange. He was appointed chairman of the Black Star Line (National Shipping Line) in 1966 because of his background in transport law. He was appointed again as Chairman of the Black Star Line for three additional terms, making him the first chairman to ever serve four consecutive terms. With the return to civilian rule in 1969 he went into private business. As an entrepreneur he owned a distillery (Elephant Industries & Distilleries) and an industrial bakery (Mount Pleasant Bakery). His Early Life and Education Dr. Ken Kwaku was born on 18th May, 1946. He lived the early part of his life in Have in the Volta Region of Ghana where he had his basic education before proceeding to Achimota School. At Achimota School, he was an outstanding student with great wit and intellect. It is therefore not surprising at all that he emerged the best Geography student in West Africa in the 1966 “A” level examinations. He also had a Grade 1 Certificate at the GCE (O) level examinations held in 1964 and all distinction grades at “A” levels. In 1967, Ken won a Commonwealth Scholarship to McGill University for his Bachelor’s degree; he graduated with a First Class Honors in Economics and Political Science from McGill University in 1970. He then proceeded to the University of Toronto for graduate studies under several academic scholarships. Dr. Kwaku also attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business where he obtained a certificate in Management Development in 1987. After obtaining his MA and PhD in Political Economy from University of Toronto, he dedicated his life to serving the world and made his time and expertise available in various roles at different levels-national, continental and global. Professional Life His work has included being a university professor, policy advisor to many African governments and over three decades of service at the World Bank Group (WBG) to name a few. He was a lecturer at the University of Guyana (Georgetown) in the Caribbean between 1975-1976; he taught Economic Theory, International Trade, Economic Development, Public Policy and International Relations. Dr. Kwaku served with the WBG from 1976 - 2004 and held positions including Chief Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) Africa Representative 2002 - 2004 and Manager for Africa 1998 - 2002. Between 1995 and 1998, he was seconded from the WBG as Advisor to the Namibian Government. He was also a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee of the WBG and retired from the WBG as the Africa Director for MIGA in 2004. During his time at MIGA, he pioneered African- Asian business linkages as well as investment in Africa’s Mining and Tourism sectors. Since retiring he has also been an advisor to a number of African and Asian governments and corporations. Some of these countries include Tanzania, Malaysia, and Namibia. Specifically, Dr. Kwaku has been an economic advisor to Presidents Nujoma of Namibia, as well as Kikwete and Mkapa of Tanzania. Following his retirement from the WBG he has also served as Chairman of Bayport Financial Services (Tanzania) Limited, Special Advisor to the Investment Climate Facility for Africa, Advisor to the Director General UNIDO, Chairman DCDM Africa and Advisor Hifadhi Business Park, East Africa and several other international agencies. He has been a Director of several financial institutions including the International Commercial Bank (Global). In Ghana, Dr Kwaku is Chairman of Brooks Asset Management, McOttley Holdings, RAM Foundation (established in honor of his late mother), Capital Line Group and Acreaty Ghana Ltd. He has also been serving as Ghana’s Honorary Consul - General in Tanzania since retiring as his way of giving back to his beloved country. Dr. Kwaku also has several academic and professional awards to his credit including the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, Ford Foundation Fellowship, McGill University and University of Toronto Open Fellowships, World Bank Excellence Award and several others. Indeed, it is said that, Dr. Kwaku never paid school fees in his entire academic life. Two very important aspects of Dr Kwaku’s life are mentorship and philanthropy. Over the last four decades, he has mentored more than 20 young people who are now blazing trails in various aspects of societal life. His philanthropic works are a continuation of his late mother’s tradition of “living as a service to lives”. Dr. Kwaku’s life can be defined as a life well lived. The quest for excellence and love for humanity have been the greatest weapons in his arsenal.