Before we start, we would want to ask the big question, what do Ghanaians do with their lives? complain daily and put blames on the government, hoping the government would change their lives. Meanwhile Nigerians are using the same opportunity and the little we have to enrich themselves and build business empires in Ghana.
A list originally compiled by Akpah Prince (akpahprince@ymail.com, akpahprince.wordpress.com) reveals over 20 Nigerian business moguls who have built or run multi-million dollar companies in Ghana.
You might have never heard of them or seen them in public but they are the ones seated in the big executive chairs behind the CEOs and MDs tables at the head offices of various financial institutions, oil companies, insurance companies and other big multinational institutions managing and controlling the economy of Ghana.
This has been a revelation through a research I conducted on heads of both Ghanaian and multinational institutions operating in Ghana. The result indicated that most of these institutions are being managed by foreigners with Nigerians being the majority where Ghanaians are assigned to the deputies and assistant positions.
But what baffles me the most is whether our fellow Ghanaians are not qualified to hold such positions or never played a role in bringing such institutions to Ghana but it is a debate for another day. Nigerians no doubt play a big part in the Ghanaian economy.
Below is a list of them and their profiles.
See Also: Top 17 Ghanaian Business Men In 2014
Chief Dr. Prince Christopher Obareki
He is the CEO/Chairman of CHRISBAKI Group Of Companies. Dr. Obareki is the CEO of CHRISBAKI group of companies’ including Bar Purity, Baki Farms, Spec Autos Ltd, Bamar properties, Cobagco Nig Ltd etc.
A Nigerian royal, Prince Christopher Obareki, began his career in Business at a very tender age. He attended St. Francis Catholic School in Nigeria. Later went to study auto-mobile engineering in Sapele Technical School. He then became the manager of Jabara Construction Company but resigned to put up his own company at a very young age.
He is indisputably one of Nigeria’s finest exports in the Diaspora. He is also very much strongly represented in the Corporate social responsibility endeavours as a philanthropist of having sponsored Children’ Republic reality TV show, built churches and schools with over four thousand beneficiaries of his unflinching generosity cutting across different tribes and cultures of Ghana and Nigeria. He was recently honoured with a doctorate degree by the Rescue Mission Theological University. He is a silent achiever and married with 4 children.
Yemi Adetuwo
He is the MD/CEO and board member of Equity Assurance Ghana Limited. Mr. Adeyemi Adetuwo B.A (Hons.), MBA, ACII (Lond.) attended both University of Lagos and Enugu State University of Science and Technology for his Bachelor and Masters Degrees respectively. He is an associate of both the Chartered Insurance Institute of London and Nigeria as well as that of the Nigerian Institute of Management. He is also a member of the society of fellows of the London Institute. He has acquired over twenty years working experience in the Insurance Industry. He joined Equity Assurance Plc in 1995 where he rose to the position of General Manager, technical operations where he seconded as the Managing Director of Equity Assurance Ghana Limited in 2008.
Mr. David Ishola Akintunde
He is the Chief Operating Officer of Equity Assurance Ghana Limited. Mr. David Akintunde (Bsc. MBA, FCIMN) the General Manager/ Chief, graduated from the University of Lagos in 1991, had a PGD in Marketing from the University of Calabar in 1996 and obtained an MBA from the University of Ado-Ekiti in 2002. He is a Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing Nigeria, a Member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria and an Associate Member of the Nigeria Institute of Managers. Prior to joining Equity Assurance in 1997, he worked with Lion of Africa and ELMAC and also has attended many insurance and marketing seminars.
Dele Momodu
The owner of Ovasion Magazine bagged his first degree in Yoruba from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in 1982, and a Master’s degree in Literature-in-English in 1988. He’s the only Nigerian ever to have such a rare combination. Between 1983 and 85, he was the private secretary to the former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Chief Akin Omoboriowo.
In 1986, Dele Momodu served His Imperial Majesty the Ooni of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, when he managed the Motel Royal Limited owned by the influential monarch. He contributed powerful articles to The Guardian, Sunday Tribune, African Concord magazine and others. He started Ovation International in 1996, and it was a big struggle to keep the business afloat.
Today, Ovation Magazine is a global brand. Ovation is also the leading events magazine dishing out the most glamorous pictures of the lifestyles of the rich and famous Africans. Ovation has covered stories and events in over 60 countries and on all the continents of the world. Dele Momodu has enjoyed worldwide acclaim and has met the High and Mighty, including Her Majesty the Queen of England, African Presidents, former American Presidents, world scholars. He is also seen at almost all entertainment events in Ghana, including the Ghana Music Awards and Laughs and Music Comedy shows which mostly hosts Nigerian comedians in Ghana. He also runs a restaurant in Ghana.
HRM, Dr. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu
he owns Chi-Bert Group of Companies with interest in oil and gas, transport, agriculture, entertainment among others. He is also the Eze Ndi Igbo of Igbos in Ghana. He is known to be a supporter of Nigerians initiatives in Ghana either through financial or moral support.