Benjamin Boakye is an Energy Governance Professional and the Executive Director at the Africa Centre for Energy Policy.

Prior to becoming the Executive Director, he served as the Deputy Executive Director, Programmes Director and Operations Director, managing the research unit and the programmes unit.

He has made contributions to the extractive sector governance in Ghana and in Africa, with much focus on corporate governance, institutional development, fiscal governance, contract governance and the evolution of legal framework for the effective management of extractive resources. He has also consulted for the World Bank Group, UNDP, and many research institutions in the resource sector.

Benjamin has delivered presentations at various international conferences on the extractive sector, particularly on revenue generation and expenditure. He works with host communities, analyzing the communities’ issues relative to the development of extractives’ projects and revenue redistribution. He also has extensive experience on power sector reforms.

Benjamin holds an MSc. from the University of Dundee, UK in Energy Studies and BA (Hons.) in Sociology with Information Studies from the University of Ghana.

Prior to joining ACEP, Kodzo was a Program Assistant, Policy Influencing and Advocacy at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI).

His research interests include Natural Resource for Inclusive Growth and Development, Sustainable Energy Access and Political Economy of Resource Management.

He holds a Masters in Economic Policy Management from the University of Ghana.

Charles spearheads research and advocacy initiatives focusing on various aspects of the climate change and energy transition landscape, such as the economics of the energy transition, the solar PV value chain, clean cooking, and methane management in Africa’s oil and gas sector. His expertise also extends to diverse projects in the extractive industry, covering topics like natural gas demand and supply dynamics in Ghana, local participation in the oil and gas sector, local labor absorption in Ghana’s extractive industry, and gender-responsive budgeting in mining-affected communities.

Charles’ research interests revolve around risk mitigation and investment decisions related to both utility-scale and small-scale renewable energy technologies in Africa. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Finance, with a specialization in Renewable Energy Investments, from the University of Ghana Business School.  Additionally, Charles holds a master’s degree in Operations Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics and Mathematics, both earned at the University of Ghana.

Eliasu is an Alumnus of the Next Generation Resource Governance Leaders Program at ACEP and a Lead for Ghana Alumnus.

Prior to joining ACEP, he served as the founding Head of STEM and Sustainability at EduSpots.

His research interests include renewable energy techno-economic feasibility analysis and lifecycle assessment, energy efficiency and demand response strategies.

Maybel is an extractive and energy professional with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics, from the University of Ghana. She leads the implementation of multi-donor projects in the energy and extractive industries on behalf of ACEP.

Her interest areas include optimizing extractive resources for inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development in Africa, promoting gender diversity in natural resource governance, and the differential impact of the energy transition on citizens.

Nana Akuamoah Darteh holds a BSc. in Business Administration and ABE/UK Business Management Advanced Diploma/Postgraduate.

Before joining ACEP in 2015, Nana was a Teaching Assistant with the Accounting Department at Pentecost University College.

Nana specializes in inventory management, budgeting, customer service management and transactions monitoring when it comes to developing projects. He has a wealth of experience in financial reporting and possesses strong analytical skills that has made him valuable to the ACEP team.

Most importantly, he is a visionary. He has the ability to see what others cannot see. His advantage has always been the ability to have a picture in his mind of exactly the result ACEP intends to achieve.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Accounting), George is currently pursuing an MBA degree in Oil and Gas Management at the University of Cape Coast. He had his National Service at the Department of Finance – University of Cape Coast, as an Administrative Assistant. He also worked as an Assistant Supply Officer at the Abura-Dunkwa District Hospital.

Derrick is an alumnus of the ACEP Next Generation Resource Governance Leaders Program (Cohort 1) and a Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Fellow.

Prior to joining ACEP, he worked as an Administrative Assistant at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and Research Assistant with Estopel Research Consult.

Derrick holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with Information Studies from the University of Ghana, Legon.

Deborah holds a Diploma in Statistics, with proven data collection, analysis, and office administrative skills.

Before joining ACEP, she worked at Bureau of Market and Social Research (MSR) as a Data Analyst, Vodafone Ghana as an Inventory Officer, and Ghana Revenue Authority as a Field Officer.

Roselyn previously worked as a Treasury and Tax Analyst with Tullow Ghana Limited. Her interests are research, policy analysis, policy advocacy, and promoting gender equality and good governance. She is also enthusiastic about promoting the interest, rights and welfare of women and children in society. Roselyn holds a master’s in social policy studies and research from the University of Ghana.

Gifty holds an MPhil in Finance from the University of Ghana Business School. She also has an Advanced Anti Money Laundering and Financial Crime Investigation certificate from the Enterprise Risk Management Institute.

Prior to joining ACEP, she worked as a Teaching Assistant with the Finance department at the University of Ghana Business School. She also interned with the Card Services and Human Resource departments at Ecobank PLC.

Betty is a Land Economist and a development planning professional with a Master of Science degree in Development Policy and Planning from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. She is enthusiastic about policy research, policy advocacy, individual and institutional capacity building, and social and economic development.

Before joining ACEP, Betty worked as a Program Officer (Land Administration and Estate Management Services) with VEKSTRAT Company Limited and as a Program Officer with Community Land and Development Foundation. She is working to develop her expertise in the renewable energy space and contribute to meaningful conversations on climate action, energy transition and the extractive industry.

Rosemond holds a bachelor’s in environmental science from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Before joining ACEP, she worked as a research assistant at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) head office in Accra. Keenly interested in the sustainability of the environment, Rosemond hopes to contribute more to research and policy advocacy towards responsible natural resource extraction that minimizes ecological damage and ensures the protection of biodiversity.

Derek is a Creative Designer and Marketer. He holds a bachelor of arts Degree in Political Science and Russian. He also has a background in Brand Management.

Prior to joining ACEP, he co-founded a creative marketing agency that aims to transform startups into global brands. He has since consulted many thriving startups. He also served as a Digital Assistant at the Education Directorate of the Ghana Armed Forces for his national service and as a Head of Digital Media at Destiny Worldwide Ministries.

He is deeply interested in renewable energy, food security, and youth capacity development.

His primary drive is to help people discover their God-given purpose while providing the basic needs to achieve them.

Paul is an energy geoscientist with over two years of experience in hydrocarbon exploration and carbon sequestration. Before joining the NextGen program, he worked as a project geoscientist at the NCDMB-FUTA Center of Geoscience Excellence in Nigeria. He holds a bachelor’s in Applied Geophysics from the Federal University of Technology Akure.

Passionate about Africa’s energy future, Paul is committed to driving the sustainable and efficient utilisation of the continent’s natural resources for socioeconomic development.

Laura is a Kenyan lawyer with a strong interest in taxation, sovereign debt, and green finance. She holds an LL.B from Strathmore University and is an advocate trainee at the Kenya School of Law.

Before joining ACEP, she served as a Sustainable Finance Legal Fellow at the International Lawyers Project, where she gained experience in legal frameworks for sustainable finance.

Kweku holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Ghana and a certificate in Integrated Appraisal and Risk Analysis from the University of Ghana Business School.

Before joining ACEP as a NextGen Leader, he worked as an Assistant Public Investment Analyst at the Ministry of Finance. He is strongly interested in the energy and extractive sectors, particularly renewable energy, where he hopes to influence economic policy and contribute to sustainable development.

Beatrice is an electrical engineer with experience in renewable energy research, rural electrification, project management, and stakeholder engagement. She has a strong interest in the energy sector, particularly in power systems and the energy transition.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and is pursuing an MSc in Power Systems and High Voltage at the University of Dar es Salaam.

Gideon is a dedicated climate advocate and project manager with a strong focus on just transition, sustainable energy, and climate governance. He is actively involved in policy formulation and has an interest in the policy regime in the energy and extractive industries in Ghana and Africa.

His experience spans climate policy research and stakeholder engagement. Gideon is committed to advancing policies prioritising equity, social justice, and environmental resilience.

He holds a Construction Technology and Management degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and likes to watch football.

Esther has a background in biological sciences and two years of research experience in biodiversity, ecology, and microbiology.

She is passionate about applying data-driven research to address climate change and energy transition challenges in Africa’s energy and extractive sectors. Her research focuses on the interactions between renewable energy technologies and ecosystems, identifying potential conflicts and opportunities for co-benefits.

Samuel is a seasoned project management consultant with over eight years of experience in project cycle management, research, and data analysis. He is proficient in project management methodologies, risk management, and team building.

A certified member of the Centre for Development Management (CMD), Samuel holds a B.Sc. in Political Science and an M.Sc. in Conflict Management from the University of Jos.

As Program Lead at ZIVA Community Initiative, he drives policy research and stakeholder engagement on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) and environmental sustainability in Nigeria. He has facilitated high-level discussions and media engagements on mining sector reforms and transparency, contributing to the advancement of sustainable development in Nigeria’s extractive industries.

Monika is deeply passionate about sustainable economic development. At ACEP, she is eager to gain hands-on experience in research and analysis related to the energy and extractive sectors—an opportunity she believes will reshape her perspective on resource governance.

Through policy formulation and review, she aims to contribute to shaping Namibia’s energy sector and beyond, ensuring local participation and using natural resources to address social issues while enhancing energy accessibility for all.

She holds a master’s degree in Oil and Gas Management and brings a unique blend of operational knowledge, expertise, and innovation to the NextGen Program.