Profile of first Chancellor of Koforidua Technical University Dr. Kwesi Eduafo Yankey

Dr. Kwesi Eduafo Yankey started his secondary school education at Aggrey Memorial A.M.E. Zion Senior High School through Axim and ended in Navrongo, where he obtained his Advanced Level Certificate. In 1974, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Administration, Marketing, and Finance at the University of Ghana. In 1976, he obtained a certificate in banking from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

In his constant quest to diversify his knowledge, he took a certificate training in insurance from the Ghana Insurance College. In 2017, Paa Kwesi was accepted into the Global Health Delivery Intensive Program (GHDI) at Harvard University, where he received a certificate.

Dr. Eduafo Yankey began his working career as a banker in Boulder, Colorado, USA. He returned to his motherland, Ghana, in the late 1970s after working for a short while in the United States of America.

On his return to Ghana, he was appointed as the commercial manager for A-Lang, a construction firm. Following his experience in the construction firm from A-Lang and coupled with his entrepreneurial acumen, he established Dumakwae Limited, a building and construction firm.

With his diverse experiences in various professional fields, he later entered into various entrepreneurial ventures, including Dumakwae Investments Limited, a holding company; Barrett Industries Limited, a manufacturing company; and Barrett Farms Limited, a Ghanaian-owned company with a speciality in the production and distribution of passion fruits and cherry tomatoes, among others. Eduafo is a distinguished seasoned entrepreneur and philanthropist with over 40 years of experience in diverse professional fields.

Over the years, Dr. Yankey has served on a wide variety of boards and companies, including Swift Plumbing and Mechanical Services Limited, Ghana Baseball and Softball Association (Chief Patron), Child Help Foundation, Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company, Busia Foundation, Panbros Salt Industries Limited, and Nexus Metals and Ceiling Limited, in various executive and non-executive positions, and has been instrumental in establishing, converting, reviving, and turning around the fortunes of non-performing companies into vibrant and profitable ones.

He is a very active member of the University of Ghana Alumni Association and was very instrumental in the designing process, sourcing for funding, and construction of the University of Ghana Jubilee Hall during the occasion of the University of Ghana’s 50th anniversary.

Dr. Kwesi Eduafo Yankey served as the Chairman of the University of Ghana Alumni Association from 2011 to 2018. During this period, there was a surge of enthusiasm and membership drive among alumni, and he initiated various programs and facilitated many philanthropic works to support health, scholarships, and education, enhancing engagements between students, administrators, and lecturers.

In his capacity as the Chairman of the Alumni Association, he served as a member of the University of Ghana Council and on the Advisory Board of the College of Health Sciences. He also served as a member of the Advisory Board of the University of Ghana Business School and the Board of Trustees of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research Global Endowment Fund.

He was very instrumental in the establishment of the University of Ghana Alumni Centre, which currently houses the Alumni Association Secretariat, the Office of Institutional Advancement, and the UG@75 Secretariat, among others.

In recognition of all his hard work and contribution to the development of Ghana and specifically to the University of Ghana, Kwesi Eduafo Yankey was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree by the University of Ghana in 2023.

In December 2022, Dr. Kwesi Eduafo Yankey was enstooled as Agonahene of the New Juaben Traditional Area with the stool name Nana Kwesi Boama.

Currently, Dr. Eduafo Yankey is the Board Chairman for Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA); Board Chairman of SUNU Assurance Limited, Ghana; Chairman of Zeepay Ghana; Chairman of KooKey Courier Services; Chairman of Eire Contractors West Africa; Chairman of First Gear and Mining Company Limited; Member on the Advisory Board of the School of Biological and Allied Health Sciences; Member of the Board of Trustees of the International Pediatric Cancer Center; Director of Security Exchange Commission; Chief Executive Officer of Dumakwae Investment Limited; Director of Omni Quarries; Director of Sao Capital Limited; and Managing Director for Barrett Farms.

Dr. Kwesi Eduafo Yankey is a family man with four (4) children (Esi, Kosi, Kofi Krofu, and Kobina Nketsia). He is an avid reader, philanthropist, sports enthusiast, and social justice advocate.