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Ghanaians who are building on their family legacies

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Tamara Jonah with Penelope Jones-Mensah, Michael Djaba and actress, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde

No matter who we are or what our goals may be, we all have something in common, that is a heritage! This is, a social, emotional and spiritual legacy passed on from parent to child.  But depending on which family we find ourselves, the type of legacy is often different. A great guide on building you own legacy can be found on this website here.

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Legacy is something that is passed on to you from family, and it can even include reputation. An example of legacy is family property that has been handed down for generations. Bekins Moving Solutions Los Angeles moving company is known for working on properties that have been handed over to generations in some of America’s wealthiest families.

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Many Ghanaians have been fortunate to be born into wealthy homes with great legacies but not all are able to make any impact with their family name or legacy. The following Ghanaians are among a special group that has taken the privileges they inherited and turned it around.

Micheal Djaba

Michael Djaba, showrunner and creator of shows such as Dentaa Show Africa, Making Of A Mogul, AT Home With, Cooking With, Omotola: The Real Me,  and a plethora of other shows is one of the many children of Henry Kwadwo Djaba. Henry Kwadwo Djaba was a Ghanaian industrialist, international businessman, astute politician and philanthropist. He is well known for his Neoplan business.  He was Chairman of Ghana Football Association (GFA) from 1970-1972.

The super rich Henry Kwadwo Djaba married 10 wives and had 24 children including: Georgette Dede Djaba (BA Hons, LLB Hons, LLM, Solicitor, UK),  Otiko Afisa Djaba (Former National Women’s Organiser, NPP),  Hans T K Djaba (MBA, Financial Adviser, Tullow Oil, Accra), Daniel Peter Djaba (Financial Consultant, London UK),  Mrs. Nana Appiah (Building Contractor, Real Estate Consultant), Ms Hetty Djabakor Djaba (Accountant, UK), Magnus Abraham Djaba (Saatchi and Saatchi, UK), and many more. The children also include Mr Henry Djaba junior, the millionaire British businessman who was kidnapped at gunpoint on the streets of Tripoli by Libyan security services . He sued Libyan government of Colonel Gaddafi for £20 million.

Michael Djaba is the Chief Creative Officer of IFactory Live Africa. He is multi-hyphenate media executive with over 10 years experience executive producing world class programming such as the “World B Boy Championship” lensed in over 14 countries hosted by LL COOL J and “Dinner Dates” on LWT in the UK.

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Having worked at BBC and LWT as a producer and director to overseeing the set up of one of the UK’s first urban TV channels on BSKYB and brokering international distribution and acquisition deals with the likes of Sony Pictures on titles such as The Boondocks, he has had international experience across production, sales and distribution , which led to IFACTORYlive Africa being set up and becoming one of the leading producers and distributors of premium content across the continent with clients including M-Net, eTV, Startimes and Fox Networks Africa.

Michael Djaba with actress, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde

Michael Djaba with actress, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde

Kojo Jones-Mensah

Emmanuel Jones-Mensah, popularly called Kojo Jones is the founder of Empire Domus.  Kojo Jone’s father is the late Justice Emmanuel Kofi Mensah (the son of Livingstone Akapko Jones-Mensah who had moved to Cameroon as the Chief Financial Officer of Unilever). Justice Emmanuel Kofi Mensah thereafter obtained a Masters in Constitutional Law at the Stumondt Law College in Belfast Ireland, becoming the first Cameroonian/Ghanaian to read constitutional law.

After his move to Ghana in 1971, he served as the Chief Justice of The Gambia. He thereafter was the Justice of the Superior Courts of Ghana. He was the Vice Presidential candidate of the PNC now CPP party with President Liman and the Chairman of the CPP party.

Justice Emmanuel Kofi Mensah’s  second marriage was to Laura Kanyi Tometi with whom he had Wendy, Penny, Kojo and Evita. His third marriage was to Gifty Lamptey with whom he had two sons, Kodjo and Kobla. Upon his retirement he opened Jones Mensah and Associates, A private law firm focused on Corporate and class action lawsuits.

Kojo Jones with his sisters Penny and Evita

Kojo Jones with sisters Penny and Evita

Law certainly runs to the Jones-Mensah family. Kojo Jone’s passion for law landed him in law school at London Metropolitan University where he read Business Law. After successfully acquiring a Bachelor of Laws in Business Law in 2011, he further pursued a Master of Business Administration in 2012 at Coventry University in the UK where he specialized in Oil and Gas Management.

He gained a lot of experience working with a few construction and real estate companies in the UK.  After working and gaining so much education, experience and exposure from the UK, Kojo returned to Ghana in 2015 to establish a new business alongside his family. He now runs and owns multiple businesses. He is the CEO and Founder of the Empire Conglomerate, which comprises various businesses in various sectors: Empire Concrete Ltd, Empire Domus Ltd, Dominion International Petroleum Ltd, KJM Trading Ltd and Kingscrown Media.

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Tamara Jonah

Tamara Jonah -Goka

Tamara Jonah -Goka

Tamara is the daughter of Ghanaian businessman, Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, former President of AngloGold Ashanti, and the Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital. Mr Jonah is reportedly worth $1.2 Billion. Jonah Capital, a holding company and private equity firm that makes investments in the mining sector, real estate, agriculture, construction materials, financial services, oil and gas services. The private equity firm is 78% owned by the Jonah Family and 22% by Standard Bank.

Now known as Tamara-Jonah-Goka, she is the owner of Lionheart Events, an events design house offering full service event planning for usually the rich. She married into the Goka family, another rich Ghanaian family that includes Tucci Goka (who is daughter to the sister of Ghana’s First Lady).

Kennedy & Henrietta Osei

Kennedy Osei and Tracy Ameyaw Wedding

Kennedy Osei and Tracy Ameyaw Wedding

Kennedy and Henrietta Osei are for now the most publicly known children of Dr Osei Kwame Despite, Chief Executive of Despite Group of Companies, who is one of Africa’s most successful businessmen. Mr Osei is noted for collecting luxurious vehicles and has great love for exotic cars.

Kennedy Osei is the eldest child of Dr. Osei Kwame ‘Despite’. Affectionately called Ken, he is now the General Manager of the Despite Group of Companies, operators of Peace FM, Peacefmonline.com, OKAY FM and Neat FM in Accra, Hello FM in Kumasi, and United Television (UTV). Ken studied BSc Business Administration at the University of Ghana, and had a MS in Economics (Money, Banking and Finance) at the University of Birmingham. He is also the Executive Managing Director of Golden Crystal Lodge.

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Henrietta Osei wedding

Henrietta Osei wedding

Henrietta Adwoa Osei, in 2017 completed a masters program at the University of Warwick. She later made the headlines all over Ghana when she married, Kwaku Shink, son of a rich import merchant.

Nana Kwame Bediako & Kwaku Bediako

I like to call Nana Kwame Bediako and his older brother Kwaku Bediako, the “real-estate family”.

Nana Kwame Bediako

Nana Kwame Bediako

Nana Kwame is CEO of Wonda World & Petronia, a real estate developing firm. He is the new kid on the block as far as the construction of modern city estate and town houses of the likes in Monte Carlo and Miami, USA, are concerned. He started life as owner of a nightclub in Accra in his mid 20s. By age 21, he had made a million pounds for himself, selling scrap steel and telecommunications material while attending school at Waltham Forest College and briefly, Westminster University. You can read about how other young Africans are making similar achievements but in the field of technology here: https://howtotechnaija.com/importance-of-technology-on-healthcare/

Today Nana Kwame is known for the ambitious projects like the construction of a $4.5 billion estate in Takoradi. Among other projects are the 43-apartment Kwarleyz in the Airport Residential area – named after his mother. There is also the 16-floor building designed by the celebrated architect Branco Cavaleiro, in Oxford Street. Nana Kwame also known as Cheddah is noted for his love for supercars and he owns a fleet including Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Kweku Bediako

Kweku Bediako

Kwaku Bediako is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Chase Petroleum Ghana Limited. A recent report estimated his worth to be $350 Million. He is also the Founder of Goldkey Properties and Blackwell Properties, two of the leading property developers with luxury apartments and townhouses in three prime areas of Accra which includes Airport, Cantonments and Roman Ridge.

Nana Kweku, Chiefy and Edjah Nduom

The sons of Ghanaian serial entrepreneur and politician, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom cannot be left out of our list. His Groupe Nduom company has over 60 businesses from banking to media to real estate, insurance and mining. Dr Nduom revealed how he lost $2 million in on day, in the April edition of the Forbes Africa Magazine. Phew!!

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Nana Kweku Nduom and Chiefy Nduom

Nana Kweku Nduom and Chiefy Nduom

Nana Kweku Nduom and Chiefy Nduom are both Vice Presidents of Groupe Nduom. They oversee their family’s investment in Illinois Service Federal Savings & Loan Association in Chicago. The Nduoms’ $9 million stake in ISF Bank marks the family’s entry into the U.S. financial services industry.

Dr Edjah Nduom

Dr Edjah Nduom

Dr Edjah Nduom is a neurosurgeon in the United States of America. He is the first black to chair the Young Neurosurgeons Committee of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

Boatemaa, Kwabena and Kofi Duffuor

The children of Dr Kwabena Duffuor, former Finance Minister and former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, surely deserve a mention on our list. Reportedly worth $680 Million, Dr Duffuor is the Founder and Chairman of HODA Holdings, a business entity comprising Insurance, Banking, Real Estates, Farming, Mining and Media (EIB Group).

Boatemaa Kakra Duffuor-Nyarko

Boatemaa Kakra Duffuor-Nyarko

Boatemaa Kakra Duffuor-Nyarko is the Chief Actuary and Executive Director of StarLife Assurance Company Limited.

Kwabena Duffuor II

Kwabena Duffuor II

Kwabena Duffuor II is the Board Chairman of uniSecurities. He is a banker by profession. He was appointed CEO of uniBank (Ghana) Limited effective 1st June, 2017.

Kofi Duffuor

Kofi Duffuor

Kofi Duffuor is the Managing Director of Star Assuarance. Kofi had his insurance training in the United Kingdom and has been in the insurance industry for over twenty-five years.

Panyin Boatemaa Panin Duffour

Panyin Boatemaa Panin Duffour

Boatemaa D. Barfour-Awuah (Boatemaa Panin Duffour, older twin sister to Kakra) is the Executive Director of Star Assurance Company Limited in charge of Finance and Administration.

Martin Beeko

Martin Beeko and wife Crystal

Martin Beeko and wife Crystal

Martin is the son of Theresa Oppong Beeko, the CEO of Manet Group one of the largest real estate developers in Ghana. Martin is the Managing Director of the Manet Group. He is married to the beautiful Christal Jeane, CEO of INEN Limited, and a former TV host.

 

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People & Lifestyle

A Powerful and Emotional Experience – “In the Pants of a Woman” – By Beatrice Shine Ayroe

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On Sunday night, I had the privilege of attending the musical play “In the Pants of a Woman,” by Mr. Kobina Ansah. A thought-provoking and poignant performance that tackled the sensitive and critical issue of rape. The play was a masterful blend of music, storytelling, and advocacy, leaving me moved, inspired, and motivated to take action.
The talented performers, with their powerful vocals and captivating stage presence, brought the stories of survivors to life through song and spoken word.
The music was hauntingly beautiful and was all written by Kobina, with a range of genres and styles that perfectly complemented the emotional intensity of the lyrics.
What struck me most was the bravery and resilience of the survivors who shared their stories, their voices echoing through the National Theatre as they reclaimed their power and dignity.
The play was a testament to the strength and solidarity of those who have faced unimaginable trauma, and a reminder that we must continue to listen, support, and amplify their voices.
The play also highlighted the importance of consent, accountability, and community engagement in preventing sexual violence.
The call to action was clear: we must work together to create a society where everyone can live without fear of violence and oppression.
Overall, “In the Pants of a Woman” was a play that will stay with me for a long time, a powerful reminder of the impact of art and music in sparking conversations, challenging norms, and driving change. I applaud the writer, organizers, performers, and survivors who made this event possible, and I look forward to seeing the ripple effects of this important work.
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Short films and La Cinef Jury and selections of the 77th Festival de Cannes

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Flanked by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, Paolo Moretti, Claudine Nougaret and Vladimir Perišić, the Belgian actress Lubna Azabal will award the Short Film Palme d’or and the 3 La Cinef prizes, the Festival de Cannes’ selection dedicated to student films.

The Jury will discover the 11 films in the Short Film Competition and the 18 films in La Cinef selection unveiled today.

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Atarah Praise: Prophet Joseph Atarah set to rock Adenta on May 19

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Ghana’s singing Prophet, Joseph Atarah is set to rock the people of Adenta on May 19 with Atarah Praise. (more…)

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Mysstel releases video for ‘Paradise’

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Budding Ghanaian musician Agyeiwaa Stella Ofosu, affectionately called Mysstel in the music circles, has released the much-awaited video for her song Paradise.

“Paradise” written and produced by multiple award-winning Ghanaian musician and producer Kuami Eugene of Rock Star Made It fame has enjoyed massive rotation and airplay since its release recently.

The video directed and shot by Cassidy is a reliving of the lyrics of the song which urges ladies to give their male partners the treatment of a lifetime.

“Paradise” released under Oracle Entertainment, is a tale of two lovers who are geared for the rollercoaster journey into the future regardless of the challenges.

According to Mysstell, love is not one-sided, and it is about time ladies make their male partners feel special, adding that “this means going all out for him like he will do for you regardless.”

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“You need to let them know you love them, they deserve to be taken to special places, let them see the best part of you, take them to your paradise,” she said.

Mysstel is optimistic she has something unique which will help her break into the Ghana music industry and later take the world by storm.

Watch the video below

Mysstel – Paradise (Official Video) finally out

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By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

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GEXIM To Celebrate Ghanaian Workers With “Workers’ Mart Tuesday Market”

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Rosemary Beryl Archer

May Day, which is also known as International Workers’ Day, is a public holiday celebrated on 1st May every year. It is a holiday that is recognized in many countries around the world to celebrate the achievements and contributions of workers around the world.

As part of activities to mark this year’s edition of May Day, the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) will be hosting a special edition of its popular Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Fair, Tuesday Market, on Tuesday 30th April 2024.

Dubbed as “Workers’ Mart”, the fair is scheduled to take place at the forecourt of the Africa Trade House (next to British Council in Accra) from 8AM to 8PM.  It will be a platform to showcase a wide variety of top quality Made-In-Ghana products to be sold at unbeatable prices.

According to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GEXIM, responsible for Banking, Ms. Rosemary Beryl Archer, the Made-In-Ghana products to be displayed are very unique, and authentic, ranging from food and ingredients, beverages, skin and beauty care products, textiles, apparel, garments, leather footwear to slippers and many others.

 She added that “we at GEXIM are happy to leverage the day to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our employees and Ghanaian employees in all industries. Also, it has become more imperative in recent times to recognize the importance of labour rights and fair working conditions. The significance of Workers Day goes beyond the commemoration of past struggles, it is an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the labour movement and to look towards the future to ensure that workers’ rights are protected and that fair and just working conditions are upheld”.

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Ms. Archer further stated that the Bank has over the years introduced initiatives to create a diverse and inclusive workplace to ensure that all workers are treated fairly and have access to equal opportunities.

 

She encouraged members of the general public to make it a point to join in the celebration by attending Workers’ Mart on Tuesday 30th April 2024 at the forecourt of the Africa Trade House (next to British Council in Accra) from 8AM to 8PM which will be climaxed with a “Worker’s Jam”.  

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Sony to adapt Ghanaian author Yaa Gyasi’s novel ‘Transcendent Kingdom’ into film

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Sony Pictures Television has announced plans to adapt Ghanaian author Yaa Gyasi’s novel “Transcendent Kingdom,” with development led by Yvonne Orji. (more…)

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