John Ayitevie, A4AI-Ghana ChampionInfrastructure Sharing & Open Access Working Group
John Ayitevie is a seasoned Professional with almost 20 years experience in Sales, Marketing, Business Development, ICT, Telecom, Consultancy, Leadership, Management and Administration in various sectors.
He has worked with various organizations including United Nations FAO, Huawei Technologies, Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia, etc. both locally and internationally. He has traveled extensively across various continents and has Management and Board level experience in some of these organizations.
In addition to being a Champion for the Infrastructure Sharing and Open Access Working Group, his past immediate leadership roles have included roles as Champion at Nokia (Ghana) Core Values and as a Country Management Team member. He has received numerous rewards and recognition for his diligence at Nokia,Alcatel-Lucent, and at HUAWEI Technologies.
John Ayitevie holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree from University of South Wales, UK. He is a Church and Youth Leader with several years of experience in Church Leadership, Management and Administration as well as Youth Leadership. He has also taken part in several CSR and humanitarian activities to better the lives of humanity. He is happily married with two lovely children.
Derek B Laryea, A4AI-Ghana Champion Taxation & Fiscal Policies Working Group
Derek B Laryea is the Head of Research & Communications at the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications; a private initiative and industry association of mobile operators and infrastructure companies.
Prior to his current role, Derek was Reputation Research, Planning & Budgeting Administrator at Scancom (MTN) Ghana, where he was actively involved in the coordination, implementation and evaluation of MTN’s community-based projects and social marketing campaigns. He also leads the Taxation Working Group for the A4AI in Ghana
Derek has close to 12years’ experience spanning converged telecommunications and digital financial services working on numerous projects within Ghana and with global bodies such as the GSMA, Facebook, UNICEF, A4AI, UNDP, FTI Consulting etc. He has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Valley View University in Ghana, an MBA in Financial Management from Coventry UK, and an MA in Public Relations from the Institute of Journalism in Ghana.
He is a certified digital finance practitioner and an alumnus of the Digital Frontiers Institute.
Abena Nyamesem, A4AI-Ghana Champion Consumer Advocacy & Equal Access Working Group
Ms Abena Nyamesem is Head of Sustainability and Partnership at GIFEC, has been named Champion of the A4AI-Ghana Consumer Advocacy and Equal Access Working Group. She is a development consultant with specialisation in developing sustainability models, compliance, facilitation, and training in entrepreneurship and ICTs, and universal access and service principles. At GIFEC, she is responsible for developing innovative models that ensure compliance, value, and sustainability of projects to serve current and future generations’ needs. She endeavours to establish profitable industry partnerships and corporate arrangements to maximise impact for beneficiary communities and its members. She is passionate about discovering sustainable digital literacy models, enabling digital transformation of local economies, and studying digital development’s sociological aspects.
Abena Nyamesem holds a Bachelor of Arts Honors degree in Sociology from the University of Ghana and a Master of Arts in Development Studies from the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) at the University of Ghana. She also possesses a certificate in Strategies for Venture and Market Creation from Cornell University in the USA.
Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Adarkwa, A4AI-Ghana National Coordinator
Kwaku Ofosu-Adarkwa is a public policy development, management and reform specialist. In April 2014, Dr. Ofosu-Adarkwa concluded a career in the Ghana Civil Service, spanning 35 years in leadership and management positions, the last 12 years of which he served as the Chief Director for the Ministry of Communications.
He was part of the team that formulated Ghana’s first ICT Policy, Strategies and Plan for Socio-Economic Development, and the Telecom Policy of Ghana in 2003 and 2005 respectively. In 2011-2012, he supported the review of Ghana’s ICT policy. He also served as the lead researcher and author of Ghana’s ICT Infrastructure Development Strategy Plan and the Broadband Policy and Strategy.
Dr. Ofosu-Adarkwa holds a Ph.D. in Information Technology at Open University Malaysia in conjunction with the Accra Institute of Technology. His thesis background focused on inclusive use of ICTs.