The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) is the country’s foremost agency charged with the responsibility of developing its non-traditional export (NTE)sector.
Over the years, GEPA has enhanced the capacity and capabilities of players in the agricultural, arts and craft, as well as the food processing sectors to export their products onto the international markets, with the sector raking in earnings of US$3.330 billion in 2021, reflecting an increase of about 17% over the 2020 earnings of US$ 2.846 billion.
The dynamic lady spearheading the recent strides chalked by GEPA is its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Afua Asabea Asare. She was appointed in 2018 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.
Dr. Asare is a highly knowledgeable individual renowned for her expertise in Integrated Communications and Organizational Development, with a particular passion for strategy.
She has 28 years’ worth of management experience under her belt, working in a variety of corporate environments and, with a knack for entrepreneurial ventures, she brings an in-depth wealth of experience to her role as CEO of GEPA
Under her leadership, GEPA has experienced consistent progress. This has been achieved through the development and implementation of projects aimed at enhancing Ghana’s NTE sector, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to its improvement.
In 2018, GEPA, through her instrumentality, won the bid to host the World Trade Promotion Organization’s Annual Conference and Awards in Ghana.
Dr. Asabea Asare has also seen to the successful completion of the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS), a comprehensive 10-year road-map crafted to enhance, modernize, and diversify Ghana’s export foundation. This Strategy aims to outline a clear vision for the future evolution of Ghana’s non-traditional export sector while providing a road-map to achieve that vision. Additionally, it promotes a national consensus on an inclusive and mutually advantageous approach to industrial export development that benefits all Ghanaians.
Dr. Asare exhibits a steadfast dedication to the development of individuals providing a wide range of services such as training, coaching, mentoring, and tailored solutions to support the growth and success of business leaders, entrepreneurs, consultants, speakers, and trainers.
The Youth in Export Competition and Youth in Exports Projects are two initiatives of hers targeted at the youth to encourage young men and women to venture into exports as full-time careers and offer assistance to individuals who have an interest in agriculture or other fields that have export potential.
A passionate supporter of the arts, Dr. Asare acknowledges it as a treasure trove and firmly believes in nurturing the industry to enable it to realise its full potential. She also recognizes the importance of empowering communities engaged in industrial art and craft by providing them with opportunities for exposure to showcase their exceptional craftsmanship on a broader commercial platform.
This dedication informed the foundation for strategic interventions, including the transformation of Art and Craft Centers into state-of-the-art exhibition facilities in four regions of the country, which she would, subsequently, promote at prestigious international fine art exhibitions called “Sound Out,” aimed at showcasing exceptional works of art to a global audience.
Notable additions to Dr. Asare‘s accomplishments include serving on the boards of renowned institutions including the African Leadership Academy in South Africa, the IE Advisory Board for IE University in Madrid, Spain, Ghana Telecom University College, and the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) Ghana.
Moreover, she actively contributes her expertise to Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Advisory Board on Trade & Investment Support Institution of ITC, Ghana Exim Bank, the Venture Capital Trust Fund, and the Data Protection Agency, Ghana.
She is the recipient of the 2019 Transformational Leadership Award (Governance Category), has been inducted into the 2019 West African Nobles Hall of Fame, and was an awardee at the 2020 Ghana Women Excellence Awards. She has again received the Distinguished Service Award at the Ghana Agricultural and Agro-Processing Awards, and the Honoree of Excellence in Public Service at the Glitz Ghana Women of the Year Awards 2020.
Dr. Asare holds an MA in Positive Leadership and Strategy from IE University in Madrid, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from KNUST, Ghana, an MSc, in Organizational Development from the University of Cape-Coast, and an MBA in International Business from Ecole Superieur de Gestion, Paris.
She also has an Advance Leadership Training Certificate, Strategic Marketing Management from the Harvard Business School, Boston, a Post-Graduate degree in Communications Studies, from the School of Comm. Studies, University of Ghana, a Diploma, Public Relations, and a Doctorate in Business Management, Swiss Business School and NIBS Ghana.
Dr. Asare is an adjunct Lecturer of Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Supply Chain Management and Strategic Marketing at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) the Presbyterian University College, and is a Visiting Lecturer and Speaker at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) Women in Entrepreneurship and Leadership in Africa (WELA) program.
Throughout her career, Dr. Asare has held influential positions across diverse sectors. She has served as a Special Advisor at the Ministry of Business Development, as well as General Manager and Head of Corporate Communications at Ghana Telecom. She has also made significant contributions to the Public Relations and Training Departments of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, various advertising agencies, the TV Newsroom of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, and Nippon Tetrapod Co. Ltd in Japan.
Her wide-ranging experience spans both national and international organizations. She has had training experience with Volta River Authority, Coca-Cola Company (GH), United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), MTN, TIGO, Star Assurance, Beige Capital, Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority.
She also writes for the Business and Financial Times (B&FT) on Positive Leadership and Strategy.
