In a groundbreaking milestone for Ghana’s business landscape, Mrs. Kosi Antwiwaa Yankey-Ayeh has stepped into the role of Chief Executive Officer at the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), becoming the first woman to hold this prestigious position. The GEA, previously known as the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), operates under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, tasked with nurturing the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the nation.
Mrs. Yankey-Ayeh brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role, backed by an exceptional academic journey. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from Harvard University, where her outstanding performance earned her the 2016 Excellence Award. Her education also includes a two-year stint at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management, where she completed the Regional Entrepreneurship and Acceleration Program (REAP). Beyond that, she graduated with a BA in Government from Wesleyan University in Connecticut and secured a certificate in Market Access for Sustainable Development from Wageningen University in the Netherlands.
Her professional path is just as impressive, weaving through finance, entrepreneurship, and consultancy across continents. Having worked in the United States, Europe, and West Africa, she honed her skills at global financial powerhouses like Deutsche Bank, Citigroup, Merrill Lynch, and UBS. At Deutsche Bank, she spearheaded a pioneering effort, helping launch the first multi-million-dollar microfinance fund ever initiated by an investment bank—a testament to her innovative spirit.
Not one to rest on her laurels, Mrs. Yankey-Ayeh ventured into entrepreneurship, founding both a financial institution and an agro-food processing company. Her business acumen shone brightly in 2011 when she emerged as a top-five finalist in the Netherlands’ Women in Business Challenge. She has also left her mark on Africa’s entrepreneurial scene by establishing incubators and accelerators to bolster MSMEs. In 2014, one of her agribusiness incubators earned a spot among the continent’s top ten to watch.
Under her leadership, the GEA has seen transformative growth. Mrs. Yankey-Ayeh has secured over $300 million in funding for entrepreneurial initiatives, boosting the agency’s budget by more than 1000%. Her strategic vision has strengthened ties with international partners like USAID, CIDA, JICA, the African Development Bank (AFdB), IFAD, and the World Bank, enabling impactful programs that uplift Ghanaian businesses.
Now at the helm of the GEA, Mrs. Yankey-Ayeh is driving a powerful wave of change, empowering entrepreneurs and fueling the expansion of MSMEs nationwide. Her historic appointment not only shatters glass ceilings but also signals a bright future for Ghana’s economic development.
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