He has worked with umpteenth organizations and served in the capacity of a Chairman or Board member where he has demonstrated ethical leadership, promoted and upheld the highest standards of integrity and probity. Upon the commencement of his career, Mr. Kutin worked with the Ghana Armed Forces from 1974 to 1982. He then continued to the Index Marketing Agency from 1982 to 1985, where he served as the Shipping Manager. From 1985 to 1989, he served as a Director in A & B Shipping Agency. Mr. Kutin has been with Allship Logistics Limited from 1990 to date as the Managing Director. During his tenure in the various settings he has worked in, he has served as Chairman of the Board of Nyankomasi Ahenkro Rural Bank in the Central Region from 2002 to 2019. He also served as a member of the Board of Governors; Foso Training College – Foso from 2002 to 2009. Within this same period, he was a member of the Board of Governors; Assin Manso Senior High School in Assin Manso. Mr. Robert Kutin has from 2004 to 2009 served as Chairman of the Public Procurement Tender Review Board (Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines – Ghana).

He has also been the President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) from 2005 to 2009. Mr. Kutin was formerly the Vice President of the Fiata – Zurich (Switzerland; International Federation of Freight Forwarders   Association) from 2013 to 2018 and still holds the position of a Member of the Working Group Road Transport – Fiata – Zurich (Switzerland; International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association) from 2010 to date as well as a Member of the Working Group Sea Transport in the same organization since 2014. Currently, he still occupies the position of Trustee Member- Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson Foundation since 2012. His Thirty-Five (35) years of working experience in the Freight Forwarding  Industry has earned him international recognition and has consequently been invited to attend conferences and seminars in the USA, UK, Australia, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Canada, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, China, Germany, Norway among several others. Mr. Robert  Kutin is married with four children.  

Mr. Alonsi holds a barrister-at-law certificate from the Ghana School of Law, Accra, and a Dip. Ed/BA (Hons) in History at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. After the undergraduate program, he enrolled in the University of Cape Coast to pursue an M. Phil in History in 1998 but upon his admission into Ghana School of Law in 1999, he had to truncate the M. Phil program at the end of the first year of the Program. Before his admission into the University of Cape Coast for this aforementioned program, Thomas K. Alonsi was a History tutor at the Sandema Senior Secondary in the Upper East Region where he also doubled up as a HouseMaster. Mr. Thomas Alonsi was called to the Ghana Bar in 2003. He has also held various positions as a parliamentary candidate for Builsa North Constituency (2016), Regional Campaign Coordinator NPP Upper East Region, 2012 elections, and the District Chief Executive, Builsa District Assembly (2005-2008) under local Government. Mr. Thomas Kofi Alonsi is a Builsa who hails from Wiaga in the Builsa North District of the Upper East Region. 

In 2003, she joined the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) as Board Secretary and combined this with the role the position of Head of the Legal Department in 2006. She was a member of the Executive Management Team and a leading member of the team which spearheaded the port modernization and privatization initiative and negotiations on the granting of concessions, licenses, and leases of port facilities and operations to the Private Sector as well as sourcing funding for major port infrastructure. She led the team which negotiated the concession for Port Reception Facilities at the ports of Tema and Takoradi and prepared the Draft Ghana Ports Bill.

She retired from GPHA in 2014. Among others, she has undertaken courses and attended international conferences on Port Management, Maritime Security, Safety of Navigation, and Marine Pollution. She was a member of Ghana’s delegation to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Legal Committee meetings which deliberated on the Repression of Piracy and Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation; Fair Treatment of Seafarers in the Event of a Maritime Accident and the Provision of Financial Security in cases of abandonment, personal injury or death; Prevention of Pollution from Ships, Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, the Removal of Wrecks by Coastal states. She was a member of the UNCITRAL Working Group on the Preparation of the Draft Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea.

She also worked to strengthen democratic governance between public and civil society organizations. She rose to become the Head of the Social Accountability Unit at the Ministry of Local government and Rural Development. As the Head, she worked extensively with various Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and civil society organizations in social accountability and participatory methodologies supervising the implementation of project activities in 46MMDAs in Ghana. She is currently the Director responsible for Policy, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the Ministry of Transport, where she coordinates the preparation and implementation of Sector Policies, Plans, and Budgets as well as monitoring and evaluation of Sector Plans, Programmes, and Projects. She, however, played an instrumental role in the Revision of the National Transport Policy (2008).

Mrs. Messiba is a product of Achimota School as well as an alumnus of the University of Ghana where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics as well as an MA in Economic Policy Management. She led the team which negotiated the concession for Port Reception Facilities at the ports of Tema and Takoradi and prepared the Draft Ghana Ports Bill. She retired from GPHA in 2014. Among others, she has undertaken courses and attended international conferences on Port Management, Maritime Security, Safety of Navigation, and Marine Pollution. She was a member of Ghana’s delegation to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Legal Committee meetings which deliberated on the Repression of Piracy and Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation; Fair Treatment of Seafarers in the Event of a Maritime Accident and the Provision of Financial Security in cases of abandonment, personal injury or death; Prevention of Pollution from Ships, Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, the Removal of Wrecks by Coastal states. She was a member of the UNCITRAL Working Group on the Preparation of the Draft Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea.

Currently the Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Engineering and Operations at the Volta River Authority. Prior to this, served in several management roles including for 2 years as the Director, Thermal Generation SBU, as Plant Manager of the Tema Thermal Power Complex (TTPC) for 4 years, as Operations Manager (TTPC) for 5 years and as Project Manager for the Tema Thermal 2 Power Project – (49.5MW Siemens Emergency Power Plant) for 2 years.

Rose through the ranks as an engineering professional (mechanical), one of the best Mechanical/Shift Charge Engineers at the Takoradi Thermal Power Stations (TTPS) whose hard work and work ethic was recognized with an assignment as Officer-In-Charge of the Osagyefo Power Barge and subsequently as Project Manager for the Performance Enhancement Projects at the Takoradi Thermal Power Station.

Recognized as a bright and intelligent individual with excellent technical, motivational, leadership and communication skills, who gets along with people and thrives on challenges and taking risk.

Always employs the tools of engagement, collaboration, and negotiations as well as a practical approach in resolving challenges. On the 6th of August 2020, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed him as the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the eleventh person to occupy the position. He was the former Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC). Henry has vast experience in natural resources management and environmental governance (both renewable and non-renewable). He is a private legal practitioner, an astute politician, and an advocate of good governance. He was a member of the 6th Parliament of Ghana and served on the Select-committee of Lands and Forestry from 2013 to 2017. He is a fellow of the Danquah Institute (DI) and currently serves on several boards of reputable organizations including the Petroleum Commission, National Development Planning Commission, Lands Commission, Forestry Commission, Ghana Maritime Authority, and Trust Logistics Limited, etc.

Henry is a final year Ph.D. Environmental Science candidate at the Institute of Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS, University of Ghana. He has been awarded Doctor of Laws (LLD)- Honoris causa by the Commonwealth University of Belize in 2017, Master class in Leadership and Management at London Graduate School also in 2017, and Master of Law (LLM)-Oil & Gas from the University of Ghana, Barrister-at-Law (BL) from Ghana School of Law, Master of Science (MSc) -Agroforestry, Bachelor of Law (LLB) and Bachelor of Science (BSc)-Natural Resources Management, all from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Henry is a Christian and married with children. He likes reading and enjoys physical exercise.

Before he was appointed the Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission, Mr. Fred Antwi-Boadu was a consultant for Project Bluemoon (Receivership) by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, Bachelor of Arts(B.A) in Risk Management, Master of Business Administration(MBA) Finance & Risk Management, and Master of Arts (M.A) in Ministry (Pastoral Care and Counselling).

Her research so far has covered public perceptions of women in seafaring; marketing local maritime terminals to boost national exports; sustainable road haulage procedures in Ghana to efficiently integrate the indigenous haulage industry into global logistics; green ports as well as sustainable port communities in Ghana. Her current research is focused on finding simple scientific ways of introducing professionalism in the logistics component of supply chains of the indigenous fishing industry in Ghana and furthermore, to find simple inexpensive ways of improving safety in the indigenous maritime industry of Ghana. She is totally committed to her God-given role of motherhood.

Alongside this responsibility, he was also the Executive Secretary of the Pan African Association of Port Co-operation from August 2012 to February 2017. Prior to this, he was Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa at the International Maritime Organization from April 2007 to July 2012, having previously served as Planning Manager and Special Assistant to the Director-General (GPHA), from October 2005 to March 2007. He has consulted widely for global investors interested in Africa’s Port Sector, renowned International Organizations such as MTBS, Holland, Duca Consulting, USA, Benom Consult, and CODEX SA (Cote d’Ivoire).

He has participated in professional training, seminars, and workshops on port reforms, Human Resource Management, Performance Indicators, Concessions Management, and Project Management. He holds an Executive MBA in Project and Strategic Management (PGSM) France, 2008, a Master of Science in Maritime Affairs (Port Management) World Maritime University, Malmo-Sweden, 2004, and a Bachelor of Arts in French & Linguistics, University of Ghana, Legon, 1997.

Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu was born on 10 March 1965 in Tamale, the Northern Region of Ghana. After completion of his first cycle of education, he proceeded to the Tamale Secondary School where he attained his Ordinary Level and Advanced Level Certificates in 1984 and 1986 respectively. He enlisted into the Ghana Armed Forces in 1987, trained at the Ghana Military Academy as part of Regular Career Course Intake 29, and was commissioned into the Ghana Navy as an Executive Officer in 1991. Subsequently, he had his International Midshipmen and International Sub-Lieutenants Courses at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, and the School of Maritime Operations, Portsmouth both in the United Kingdom (UK), from April 1993 to April 1994 and from September 1994 to April 1995 respectively. He was adjudged the best international student in both courses.

In 1996, Rear Admiral Yakubu had his Junior Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji in Nigeria. From 2002 to 2003, he completed his Senior Command and Staff Course at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) Teshie – Accra, where he emerged as the best Naval student. Other courses undertaken by Rear Admiral Yakubu include the Naval Staff Course at the Naval War College in Rhode Island, USA in 2005, the International Maritime Operations Course at the Coast Guard Training Centre, Virginia, the USA in 2006, the International Disaster Management Course at Resilience Centre of Cranefield University, the UK in 2007 and the Naval Command Course at the Naval War College, Rhode Island, USA from July 2015 to June 2016 where he was awarded Honourable Mention for the coveted Rear Admiral Joseph C. Strasser International Leadership Prize.

Rear Admiral Yakubu has held various appointments in the course of his career starting with Administrative Officer at the Naval Base Sekondi from February 1991 to October 1992 and Watch-Keeping Officer onboard Ghana Navy Ships (GNSs), ACHIMOTA, and YOGAGA from October 1992 to June 1997 and then as Executive Officer on GNS SEBO from
July 1997 to March 1999. During the period on board these three ships, he participated in the military intervention in Liberia and Sierra Leone as part of the ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG).

Following that, he served as the Officer-in-Charge of the Communications School at the Basic and Leadership Training School at the Naval Base Tema, from March 1999 to
April 2000 and as the Officer-in-Charge of Naval Cadet Training at the Regional Maritime Academy (now Regional Maritime University) from April 2000 to January 2001.

Afterward, he was appointed the first Executive Officer of GNS ANZONE in January 2001 and was part of the crew that sailed the Ship from Alaska, USA, on its maiden voyage to Ghana. In September 2003, he proceeded to the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) as a Military Observer and returned in September 2004 to assume the post of Acting Commanding Officer, Basic and Leadership Training School at the Naval Base Tema. He returned to the Fleet in June 2005 and was appointed Commanding Officer of GNS ANZONE where he served from June 2005 to June 2006. As Commanding Officer of GNS ANZONE, he was instrumental in the arrest of MV BENJAMIN, which was trafficking cocaine to Ghana. He was commended for his professionalism and resourcefulness in the Report of the Georgina Woode Committee that investigated the MV BENJAMIN saga.

Rear Admiral Yakubu’s next appointment was as a Directing Staff at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Teshie – Accra, from September 2006 to October 2008, and at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji in Nigeria from October 2008 to October 2010. He returned to GAFCSC as Directing Staff in October 2010 and was later appointed as the Acting Chief Instructor of the Naval Faculty from July 2011 to December 2011. He was then posted back to the Fleet and appointed Commanding Officer of Ex-German Navy Warship, which was later named GNS YAA ASANTEWAA in December 2011 and he subsequently sailed the ship as its first Commanding Officer from Germany on its maiden voyage to Ghana.

In November 2012, he was posted to the Naval Headquarters where he initially served as the Director of Naval Administration till July 2015 and then as the Acting Chief Staff Officer from July 2016 to April 2017. He was promoted to the substantive rank of Commodore and appointed substantive Chief Staff Officer in May 2017. He served in that capacity till
August 2019 when he was appointed Ghana’s Defence Attaché-designate to London, UK.

Subsequently, Rear Admiral Yakubu was appointed Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces from 18 February 2020 to 5 February 2021 when he assumed the helm as Acting Chief of the Naval Staff based on the appointment by the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces. He was confirmed as the 18^th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) by the President on 4 March 2021.

During the course of his career, Admiral Yakubu has been awarded for several accomplishments and also honored with several medals including commemorative medals and those attained on international peace operations such as the ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group in Liberia (ECOMOG) and with the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) among others.

Admiral Yakubu holds a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations from the Salve Regina University, USA, and a Post-graduate Diploma in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. He is an avid researcher and has authored numerous papers on maritime security and strategy.  He is Co-Author and Co-Editor of the official history of the Ghana Navy titled “History of the Ghana Navy: A Case for a Credible Naval Force for National Development”.

He is married with children and enjoys reading, swimming, and playing golf.

Mr. Emmanuel Arku graduated from the University of Ghana in 1991 with BSc (Hon) in Statistics and Geography. He obtained an MSc degree in Shipping Management from the World Maritime University in 1999. Mr. Arku also holds an EMBA in Project Management, which he obtained from the University of Ghana in 2011. Mr. ARKU has a wealth of experience in shipping and trade facilitation spanning over twenty-seven (27) years. He has led many projects and research work in reducing shipping costs and ensuring competitiveness for shippers in Ghana and the West and Central Africa region. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and is currently the Head of Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the Ghana Shippers’ Authority.

Born Edward Tetteh-Owusu Akrong, he is a freight forwarder by profession and expert in customs procedure and processes with over thirty-five (35) years combined experience in Customs Business and matters of Trade Facilitation.

Having been in front-line leadership of the Ghana Institute of freight forwarders for several years including being the Chairman for Tema District, Council Member, and Executive Secretary of the same organization, he has played major roles in the transformation of the Ghanaian freight forwarding and logistics industry including the “paperless port process”. He loves to write on Industry issues and regularly participates in industry debates and advocacy.

He is currently the President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF).

Ms. Susan Dilys Kwakye is an alumnus of the University of Leicester, United Kingdom. She holds an MBA in Employee Relations from the University of Leicester. She attended the Institute of Professional Studies (now University for Professional Studies, Accra) and also holds the final certificate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), UK, and a Diploma in Public Relations and Advertising (GIJ), Ghana.

Ms. Kwakye is a seasoned administrator with about 27years of experience as a public servant. She was the first person to head the Academic Affairs Department of Accra Technical University (formerly Accra Polytechnic). As head of the Academic Affairs Department, she was responsible for students’ admissions and management of students’ records.

She contributed enormously to the development of Accra Technical University as she rose through the ranks while working in various departments of the University including Examinations, General Administration, and Public Relations. She headed the Human Resource Directorate and was responsible for the management and development of the human capital of the University. During the period, she facilitated the organization of various training programs and workshops for both staff and students.

She rose to the position of Acting Registrar of the University and was in charge of the administrative machinery of the University. As Acting Registrar, she automatically became the Secretary to the University’s Governing Council, a role she performed to the admiration of all. Ms. Kwakye also served on Sub-committees of the University Council, the Academic Board, and other committees.

As part of her social responsibility efforts, she served as the Executive Secretary to the Conference of Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana. She was in charge of the Conference Secretariat and organized all meetings of the Vice-Chancellors.

Before joining Accra Technical University, Ms. Kwakye worked briefly as an Accounting Assistant at the Accounts Department of the Ghana Medical School. She also teaches on a part-time basis.