The government of Ghana is keen to mobilize the skills and resources of Ghanaians in the diaspora to help transform the country, according to Ghana’s Ambassador to Denmark Amerley Ollennu Awua-Asamoa.
Speaking at a recent interaction with Ghanaians in Denmark, she said, “Ghanaian Diaspora in national development has won unprecedented recognition from the current government. President Nana Akufo Addo’s administration prioritises Diaspora investments. This is evident in his vision on Diaspora inclusiveness in building the new Ghana, the Ghana beyond Aid.”
African Voice compiled a list of 61 influential Ghanaians in the Diaspora who were either born in Ghana or of Ghanaian descent, significantly notable for their achievement as the African nation celebrates 61st independence anniversary.
1 Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr., better known by his stage name Stormzy, is an English grime and hip hop artist of Ghanaian decent. He won Best Grime Act at the 2014 and 2015 MOBO Awards and was named as an artist to look out for in the BBC’s influential Sound of 2015 list. His most successful song to date is the BPI platinum-selling Shut Up. The track became the official UK Singles Chart Christmas number one. Stormzy has been shortlisted to play at the royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
2. Peter Mensah is a Ghanaian-British actor, best known for his roles in Tears of the Sun, Hidalgo, 300, and Dead Space, and more recently on the Starz original series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, and Spartacus: Vengeance.
3. Afua Hirsch, is a writer, broadcaster, barrister and human rights development worker of Ghanaian, English and Jewish heritage. She is the Social Affairs and Education Editor for Sky News and was previously a correspondent for the British newspaper The Guardian.
4. Joanna Abeyie is an award-winning, agenda-setting Diversity champion and recruiter, social campaigner, TV executive, broadcaster and journalist. She founded the award-winning creative industry diverse talent recruitment business Shine Media in 2009, which recently became Hyden, helping to place nearly 4,000 people from diverse backgrounds in permanent and freelance jobs in the creative industries. Joanna Abeyie is a staff writer at Virgin Media magazine.
5. Kwasi Danquah better known by his stage name Tinchy Stryder, is a Ghanaian-born English rapper, entrepreneur, and investor. Stryder has released three solo studio albums, Star in the Hood (2007), Catch 22 (2009), and Third Strike (2010). Stryder’s business ventures include the clothing line Star in the Hood, the Cloud 9 x Goji headphone and audio equipment range in collaboration with the Goji brand (distributed exclusively throughout Europe by Currys PC World, Cloud 9 Records and Cloud 9 Publishing).
6. Akyaaba Addai-Sebo. In 1987 the concept of Black History was developed by Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, a special projects officer at the GLC, and later at the London. Strategic Policy Unit. With the support of these bodies, politicians, community activists and senior officers Addai-Sebo coordinated the first official Black History Month event on October 1, 1987.
7. Akosua Annobil born and raised in London to Ghanaian parents, Akosua Annobil is an award-winning public relations manager and entrepreneur who has worked in the media industry since the mid-1990s, and currently operates out of Accra, Ghana, and her hometown (UK). Akosua Annobil is a director at Firemediauk.net.
8. Nana Afua is one of the striving Curve Models in the UK, born in Ashanti, Ghana. She won Britain’s Top Model of Colour Cycle5 in 2010. Afua is a multi award winning Model and a Philanthropist. She studied at Thurrock College specialising in Art & Design and furthered her education at the London School of Arts. In June 2009, she was scouted by a Model Agent for London Fashion Week which kicked off her Modelling career but started professionally in February 2011 as an Ambassador for Models of Colour UK.
9. Nii Ayikwei Parkes born in the United Kingdom to parents from Ghana, where he was raised, is a performance poet, writer, publisher and sociocultural commentator. He is one of 39 writers aged under 40 from sub-Saharan Africa who in April 2014 were named as part of the Hay Festival’s prestigious Africa39 project.
10. Lethal Bizzle, MC. Maxwell Owusu Ansah, known by his stage name Lethal Bizzle, is an English rapper and actor from Walthamstow, London. He emerged in 2002 as a grime MC as part of More Fire Crew, with their grime single “Oi!” charting in the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart. His debut solo single “Pow (Forward)” attracted attention for its aggressive content, charting at number 11 despite being banned from airplay and clubs. Although known notably for his single releases, Lethal Bizzle released his debut studio album, Against All Oddz, in 2005, followed by Back to Bizznizz in 2007.
11. Reverend Charles Buckman is Chairman of the Ghana Network, Pastor Charles as he is affectionately known is a pastor, public speaker and television personality. Pastor Charles is the senior pastor of Fatherhood Ministry and is actively involved in community affairs.
12. Doreen Adusei M.B.E, Fashionworks Creative Director, fashion design and forecasting specialist. A graduate from the Royal College of Art, with previous industrial experience in forecasting and range development for Courtaulds, Harvey Nichols and Liberties. In winning the Skills Challenge award in 1996, Doreen established a specialist creative Centre, as an industrial Centre for new and established practitioners and businesses.
13. Charles Abugre is a Ghanaian development economist. He has worked as a researcher and lecturer, and as an NGO activist and development professional in several parts of the world. He is currently the Africa regional director for the United Nations Millennium Campaign, based in Nairobi
14. Sally Baffour, Founder of Thank U, adoption promoter, a black adoptive mother and a former government adviser who was for six years a trustee of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering.
15. Elsie Owusu OBE is a Ghana-born British female architect, a founding member and the first chair of the Society of Black Architects. She is also known to have co-led the refurbishment of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in 2009 and worked on Green Park tube station She was voted African Business Woman of the Year in 2014.
16. Sir David Frank Adjaye OBE RA is a Ghanaian British architect.Adjaye is the lead designer of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, located on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
17. Ekow Eshun, is a Ghanaian-British writer, journalist, and broadcaster. Until November 2010 he was the artistic director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, He is a contributor to BBC2’s Friday night arts programme Newsnight Review, the editor-in-chief of the quarterly magazine Tank and a former editor of Arena magazine
18. Becky Ayebia Clarke, Nana Ayebia is a Ghanaian-born publisher currently resident in the UK. She has a BA (Hons); and MSc in Women’s Studies from the University of Oxford. She founded Ayebia Clarke Publishing Limited with her husband David in 2003. Becky Nana Ayebia Clarke was awarded an Honorary MBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2011 for services to the British publishing industry.
19. Ozwald Boateng OBE is an English fashion designer of Ghanaian descent, known for his trademark twist on classic British tailoring and bespoke style.
20. Godfried Donkor, is a Ghanaian artist, living and working in London, who has exhibited in Cuba, Mexico, the US, Europe and Africa. He is known primarily for his work in collage, and has been described as similar to Keith Piper and Isaac Julien in his output.
21. Abdul “Baba” Rahman, is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Bundesliga side Schalke 04, on loan from Chelsea, and for the Ghana national team.
22 . Cameron Duodu is a United Kingdom-based Ghanaian novelist, journalist, editor and broadcaster. After publishing a novel, The Gab Boys, in 1967, Duodu went on to a career as a journalist and editorialist
23. Baffour Ankomah, born in Ghana, has been editor of New African since July 1999. His passion is Africa and its Diaspora. A journalist since 1980, Baffour started his career at The Pioneer, the oldest existing newspaper in Ghana, where he became editor 1983-86. He joined New African in mid-1988 as assistant editor, then rose to deputy editor in 1994, and editor in 1999.
24. Marilyn Heward Mills was born Switzerland and brought up in Ghana, the daughter of Ghanaian father and a Swiss mother. Her first novel, Cloth Girl, was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award. The Association of Foreign Spouses is her second novel.
25. Eva Simpson is notable UK celebrity journalist working across newspapers, websites and magazines like The Guardian, The Observer, Huffington Post and Mail On Sunday.
26. Dame Betty Asafu-Adjaye is the first Black woman in the UK to receive the title “Dame”. With the help of a team of community volunteers and National Lottery funding, she built an inspiring new model for a community centre on an estate in Harlesden, London UK, that received international recognition for its work. Dame Betty is the first Black woman in the UK to receive the title “Dame”. With the help of a team of community volunteers and National Lottery funding, she built an inspiring new model for a community centre on an estate in Harlesden, London UK, that received international recognition for its work.
27. Lord Paul Yaw Boateng, Baron Boateng. Former British High Commissioner to South Africa. British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Brent South from 1987 to 2005, becoming the UK’s first mixed-race Cabinet Minister in May 2002, when he was appointed as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Following his departure from the House of Commons, he served as the British High Commissioner to South Africa from March 2005 to May 2009.
28. Lisa I’Anson is a British TV broadcaster and VJ. She is of a multicultural origin; her mother is from Ghana and her father is Danish.
29. Derek Andrew Safo, better known by his stage name Sway or Sway DaSafo, is an English musician of Ghanaian descent. He is also a producer, having established Dcypha Productions, signed to Island/Universal.
30. Dylan Kwabena Mills, better known by his stage name Dizzee Rascal, is an English hip-hop recording artist and record producer. A pioneer of grime music, his work has also incorporated elements of UK garage, bassline, British hip-hop, and R&B.
31. Reggie Yates is an English actor, television presenter and radio DJ, best known from his roles as Rastamouse, Leo Jones in Doctor Who, and for his work at the BBC in radio and television – presenting various shows for BBC Radio 1 with Fearne Cotton – as well as hosting the ITV2 reality show.
32. Adam Afriyie MP. Member of Parliament for Windsor. Adam grew up in social housing in Peckham, South East London. He joined the Conservatives in 1990 as an active grassroots member of the Party. Elected MP for Windsor in 2005, Adam was Shadow Minister for Science and Innovation between 2007 and 2010.
33. Harry Leslie Aikines-Aryeetey is an English sprinter. A prodigious junior runner, in 2005 he was named as the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and the IAAF’s Rising Star of the Year.
34. Henry Bonsu, Broadcaster & conference host, former presenter on Colourful Radio. An Oxford languages graduate, he was a producer on Radio 4’s Today, Britain’s biggest current affairs programme. He has also presented shows on satellite TV channels Vox Africa, BET International and Press TV and been an analyst on Sky News, Al Jazeera and Arise News.
35. Abrantee Boateng is a radio and television presenter, club DJ and event promoter. He is known professionally as DJ Abrantee and is one of the voices of urban radio station Capital Xtra in the United Kingdom.
36. David Dunkley Gyimah is a senior lecturer at the University of Westminster, an Artist in Residence at the Southbank Centre and an international video journalist/trainer. He has worked in the media for more than 25 years as a producer on programmes such as Channel 4 News.
37. George Twumasi is Deputy Chairman, CEO and the visionary force behind ABN. He has extensive professional, market knowledge of the free-to-air television broadcasting and advertising landscape in Africa and has established a global network of industry contacts.
38. Kanya King MBE is the founder of the MOBO Awards. King was born to an Irish mother and a Ghanaian father. She is an internationally renowned entrepreneur. She was appointed MBE in 1999 for services to the music industry.
39. Adjoa Andoh is a British film, television, stage and radio actress. She is known on the UK stage for lead roles at the RSC, the National Theatre, the Royal Court Theatre and the Almeida Theatre, and is a familiar face on British television.
40. John Akomfrah, CBE is a British artist, writer, film director, screenwriter, theorist and curator of Ghanaian descent, whose “commitment to a radicalism both of politics and of cinematic form finds expression in all his films”
41. Freema Agyeman is an English actress who is known for playing Martha Jones in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who and its spin-off series Torchwood, and Amanita Caplan in the Netflix science fiction drama Sense8.
42. June Konadu Sarpong MBE is a British television broadcaster and former panellist on ITV’s Loose Women. She is currently a panellist on the Sky News programme, The Pledge.
43. Justin Butah First Black officer in The Life Guards is a Ghanaian-born captain in the Life Guard, the splendidly attired mounted unit that guards Britain’s royal family on ceremonial occasions, has become the first black officer in the regiment’s 341-year history. Justin Butah, 30, is to be escort commander guarding Queen Elizabeth. Capt Justin Butah, 30, is the first black officer in the Queen’s Household Cavalry.
44. Amma Asante BAFTA award winning Writer/Director made an unusual entry into filmmaking. As a child, Amma attended the Barbara Speake stage school in London, where she trained as a student in dance and drama. She began her career as a child actress, appearing as a regular in the popular British school drama Grange Hill. She fronted the “Just Say No” campaign of the 1980s and was one of nine Grange Hill children to take it to the Reagan White House.
45. Margaret Busby OBE Nana Akua Ackon was born in Ghana, of part-Caribbean parentage, and educated in Britain. On graduating from London University in the 1960s she became the UK’s youngest and first Black woman publisher when she co-founded Allison & Busby Ltd, of which she was Editorial Director for 20 years.
46. Bernard Francisco Ribeiro, Baron Ribeiro, CBE is a British surgeon who served as President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England from 2005 to 2008. Ribeiro qualified as a doctor at Middlesex Medical School in 1967. He was created a life peer in 2010 and sits in the House of Lords on the Conservative benches.
47. Tutu Agyare Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer Nubuke Investments.Tutu was appointed as a non-executive Director of Global Head of Emerging European Markets at UBS in August 2010. He is currently a Managing Partner at Nubuke Investments, an asset management firm focused solely on Africa, which he founded in 2007.
48. Hugh Anthony Quarshie is a Ghanaian-born British actor of stage, television and film. Some of his best-known roles include his appearances in the films Highlander. He spent the first three years of his life in Ghana where he was born. Hugh graduated from Oxford with a degree in politics, philosophy and economics.
49. Rhiannon Afua “Rhian” Benson is a Ghanaian-British soul and jazz singer and songwriter. Benson was born in Accra, Ghana, to a British (Welsh) mother, who was a singer, and an Ashanti father.
50. Danny Welbeck, Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah Welbeck is an English professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Arsenal and the English national team. He primarily plays as a forward but can also play as a winger.
51. Patrick Agyemang is a Ghanaian semi-professional footballer who plays as a striker for Baffins Milton Rovers. Agyemang began his career at Wimbledon, progressing through the club’s youth system.
52. Joe Casely-Hayford, OBE is a British fashion designer. Since the mid 1980s he has established an international reputation as one of the UK’s most respected and consistently relevant designers of men’s and womenswear clothing. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the fashion.
53. Kwadwo “Kojo” Asamoah, is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who plays as a left midfielder, left wing-back or as an offensive central midfielder for Italian club Juventus and the Ghana national football team. Asamoah, won CAF Most Promising African Player in 2010, Ghana Player of the Year in 2012 & 2013, CAF Team of the Year in 2014 and Series A Team of the Year in 2014.
54. Adrien Victor Sauvage, is a British fashion designer, director and photographer of Ghanaian descent. He played professional basketball from the age of 13, representing Great Britain at an international level. Sauvage soon retired from basketball and established himself as a stylist and lifestyle consultant. With no formal training, Sauvage created a fashion line that reflected his personal philosophy, Dress Easy, (D. E). He created House A Sauvage in 2010 and launched his first collection “This Is Not A Suit”, which was quickly accepted by Harrods as well as Matches Fashion a London boutique.
55. Samata Angel Samata, also known as Samata Pattinson, is a fashion entrepreneur, director, producer and presenter. The British-born Ghanaian fashion designer, author and journalist is also best known for her role as Global Campaign Director for Suzy Amis Cameron’s Red Carpet Green Dress campaign showcasing ethical fashion on the Oscars red carpet. Samata is an award-winning womenswear designer.
56. Thomas Teye Partey (often simply known as Thomas, is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Atlético Madrid as a defensive midfielder. Thomas Partey won the UEFA Champions League: Runner-up 2015–16.
57. Anita Amma Ankyewah Asante is an English football defender currently playing for Chelsea in the FA WSL. She has made 67 appearances for the English national team and was selected in the Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.
58. Rachel Aba Yankey, OBE is an English footballer who plays for the England national team. She plays as a left winger or forward, and wears the number 11 for England. She is of Ghanaian descent, from her father’s side.
59. Augustus Casely-Hayford is a British curator and cultural historian with Ghanaian roots. He is Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington DC, USA. He has been awarded the Leader of the Year for Arts and Media by the Black British Business Awards 2017. He has been awarded a Cultural Fellowship at King’s College London and a Fellowship at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
60. Mavis Amankwah, is a British-Ghanaian entrepreneur, businesswoman and diversity ambassador, specialising in marketing, public relations, diversity communications and business start up & sustainability. Mavis Amankwah runs Rich Visions communications UK. Amankwah has been listed in PR Week’s PowerBook for six consecutive years between 2009 –2015.
61. Poku Osei, a Ghanaian entrepreneur based in the UK, was recently honoured by the Buckingham palace for his immense contributions in the commonwealth diaspora.
Kindly follow us on twitter:@AfricanVoice2
