The International Centre for Public Development is guided by a committed leadership and management team that ensures professionalism, accountability, and impact across all our initiatives. Our team is composed of:

Head of Legal and Secretary to the Board – providing legal guidance and ensuring sound governance. Head of Programs and Public Relations – leading program development, stakeholder engagement, and external communications. Centre Coordinator – overseeing day-to-day operations and organizational effectiveness. Head of Finance – managing financial integrity, resource allocation, and compliance. Head of Research – directing evidence-based studies to inform policy and practice. Research Volunteer – supporting the research unit with innovation and fresh perspectives.

To maintain flexibility and excellence, researchers and training facilitators are engaged on an outsourced basis for specific training programs, ensuring that the Centre draws on the best expertise available for each initiative.

Mr. Hope Kwaku Nyadi is a retired Senior Staff Officer who served with distinction at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and voluntarily retired from the Ghana Police Service at the rank of Deputy Superintendent after over three decades of investigative service. His extensive career includes notable appointments such as Corporate Security Manager at the West Africa Head Office of United Bank for Africa (UBA) in Accra and Secretary to the Deputy Director of Operations at EOCO.

During his tenure at EOCO, Mr. Nyadi held several strategic positions, including Head of the Financial Crime Unit, Head of the Analysis Unit, and Deputy Head of the Mutual Legal Assistance Unit. In the Ghana Police Service, he also served as Head of the Commercial Crime Unit at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters and as District Crime Officer in Community One, Tema.

A trained teacher by profession, Mr. Nyadi is also a seasoned Financial Sector Security Manager and Intelligence Officer with a deep commitment to developing strategies aimed at safeguarding the public purse. He is widely recognized as a polymath, with expertise spanning multiple disciplines such as business and industrial management, law enforcement, intelligence gathering and analysis, illicit asset tracing and recovery, corporate strategy, and Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR).

Academically, he holds several advanced degrees and professional qualifications, including:

Master of Arts in Criminology Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Global Corporate Strategy Master of Laws (LL.M) in Corporate and Commercial Law Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration Professional Executive Master’s in Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Diploma in Protecting the Public Purse (Cairo, Egypt)

In addition, he has earned numerous career development certificates from both local and international institutions.

Mr. Nyadi currently serves as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School (Legon) and Wisconsin International University College (Accra), where he lectures in Corporate Security Management and Investigation Studies.

He brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and practical experience to the financial crime and corporate security sectors, and is regarded as one of the industry’s foremost experts.

Assad Senyo Gbadegbe is an astute, results-driven, and resourceful legal practitioner with extensive experience in corporate law, regulatory compliance, dispute resolution, company secretarial practice, and transactional advisory.

As Head of Legal and Secretary to the Board at the International Centre for Public Development (ICPD), he provides strategic legal guidance and ensures sound governance practices that align with the Centre’s mission of promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability in public institutions.

Since December 2013, Assad has served as a Senior Associate with Beyuo & Co, where he has honed his expertise in complex corporate and commercial transactions, regulatory advisory, and litigation. His work reflects a deep commitment to excellence, ethical leadership, and institutional reform.

Assad holds a B.L. (Honours) from the Ghana School of Law (2011–2013), an LL.B (Honours) from the University of Ghana, Legon (2009–2011), and a B.A. (Honours) in History also from the University of Ghana, Legon (2002–2006).

His diverse academic foundation and practical experience make him a key pillar in ICPD’s efforts to strengthen governance systems and build legal frameworks that support the fight against corruption and financial crimes in the public sector.

QUALIFICATIONS

Salifu James Zirah holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), post-graduate diploma in project management, and a certificate in Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) Part One. He has over 20 years of professional experience in financial and administrative management, working for national and international NGOs and on large-scale programs funded by USAID and other donors. He has proven expertise in managing USAID-funded contracts, including budgeting, sub-contractor management, HR, and procurement oversight.

EDUCATION

* Global Health, M & E Fundamentals (Revision o), 2018

* Grant Management Training, Full Life Cycle Grants Management: Pre-Award, Award, Post-Award, Monitoring, and Close-Out, 2018

* Procurement Planning & Execution, USAID Grant & Cooperative Agreements, 2017

* Financial Management for US Government Funding, 2016

* USAID Rules & Regulations, Grants & Cooperative Agreements, 2016

* International Executive Master of Business Administration, Strategic and Project Management, 2015

* MBA, Paris Graduate School of Management, 2014

* Post Graduate Diploma, Advanced Management Practice-2, Operations Management, Company Law, Management Economics, Paris Graduate School of Management, 2010

* Post-Graduate Diploma, Project Management, Paris Graduate School of Management, 2009

* Professional Part 1, Preparing Financial Statements, Financial Information for Management, Managing People, ACCA, 2007

* ACCA Part One, Association of Cettified Chartered Accountants, UK, 2006

* Higher National Diploma, Accounting Option, Tamale Polytechnic, 2002

* Diploma in Business Studies, Accounting Option, Tamale Polytechnic, 2001

EXPERIENCES

* DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS: University Research Co., LLC (URC). May 8, 2023 - Date

* FINANCE AND OPERATIONS MANAGER: USAID/ Advancing Nutrition Project, JSI, Tamale,Ghana. January 2021 - January 2022

* FINANCE MANAGER: USAID/Resiliency in Northern Ghana (RING) - Global Communities, Tamale, Ghana. September 2015 - September 2019

 * FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER: Project Fives Alive, National Catholic Secretariat, (NCS), Accra, Ghana. January 2013 - September 2015

OTHER POSITIONS

* OPERATION BASE FINANCE TEAM LEAD: World Vision Ghana. 2009 - 2012

* FINANCE OFFICER: World Vision, Ghana. 2005 - 2009

* FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER: Positive Steps Partnership, Ghana. 2003 - 2005

LANGUAGES

* English: Fluent. Twi: Fluent. Mampuli: Fluent. Dagbani: Fluent. Bisa: Fluent

Ellis Asamani is an experienced development practitioner, digital entrepreneur, and educator with a strong background in security, economics, governance, and capacity building. As the Centre Coordinator, he plays a pivotal role in advancing the Centre’s mission to combat corruption and financial crimes in government and public institutions through training, research, and institutional strengthening.

With a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, Ellis combines analytical expertise with a passion for ethical leadership and sustainable development. He has more than 45 years post-graduation combined work experience as naval officer in the Ghana Navy,  teacher, lecturer, business consultant, and deputy director at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition in Pretoria, South Africa. He brings ample experience to help foster transparency, accountability, and good governance across Africa.

Ellis is committed to building a new generation of public servants and civic leaders equipped with the knowledge, integrity, and digital tools necessary to drive systemic change and uphold the highest standards of public service.

Nanayaa Tobore is a Finance and Grants Management Specialist with nearly a decade of experience supporting international donor-funded development programs across Ghana and West Africa. She brings deep expertise in grant administration, financial compliance, procurement oversight, and institutional capacity building — particularly within USAID-funded projects.

She has worked with leading international development organizations including ACDI/VOCA and Tetra Tech ARD, where she supported large-scale USAID programs such as the Feed the Future Ghana Market Systems and Resilience Activity and the West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emissions Development (WABiLED) project. In these roles, she managed the full grants lifecycle — from pre-award due diligence and budget negotiation to implementation monitoring, financial compliance, and close-out 

Nanayaa has led critical functions including:

* Pre-award financial and compliance assessments

* Grant budget development and cash forecasting

* Monitoring of grantee performance and deliverables

* Audit-ready documentation and donor reporting

* Procurement and invoice verification

* Risk identification and fraud prevention in sub-awards

She has worked directly with USAID compliance systems, donor regulations, and international NGO governance frameworks, supporting hundreds of active grants and ensuring strict adherence to financial integrity standards 

Earlier in her career, Nanayaa built a strong financial foundation in the banking and INGO sector, working with Zenith Bank Ghana where she handled transaction controls, reconciliations,vendor verification, and financial reporting — experience that now strengthens her work in development finance and anti-corruption environments 

Tobore Nana-Yaa Assumpta Uchechi holds a BA in Administration, an Executive Certificate in Banking, and an HND in Accountancy, and is currently pursuing masters in international development. She has received multiple USAID trainings in procurement, VAT compliance, and financial management, Fraud and corruption prevention in public procurement - UNOPS/ IACA,and is also a certified trainer under the Women in Digital Business / Foundations Program on Digital Skills.

Paul Agyei Gyang is a seasoned law enforcement and financial crime expert with over two decades of progressive experience in criminal investigations, organized crime prevention, and corporate security management. He currently serves as the Northern Regional Director of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and volunteers as a Research Fellow at the International Centre for Public Development (ICPD), contributing his extensive field experience to research initiatives aimed at combating corruption and financial crimes in public institutions.

Before his current role, Paul served as a Detective Inspector with the Ghana Police Service, Corporate Security Assistant at Nestlé Central and West Africa, and Security Manager at Nestlé Ghana Limited. Within EOCO, he has held several strategic leadership positions, including Regional Director, Greater Accra, Head of Financial Crime Unit, Head of Organised Crime Unit, Team Lead for Special Investigations, and Second-in-Command of the Procurement Fraud Unit. His analytical insight and investigative acumen have made significant contributions to national anti-corruption and organized crime control efforts.

Paul’s academic and professional background reflects a deep commitment to governance, law, and security. He holds an LLB, a Master’s Degree in Conflict, Peace, and Security, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. His specialized training includes a Certificate in Organized Crime (Organized Crime College, Caserta, Italy), Financial Crime Management (City of London Police), Certificate in Disclosure Procedures (AG's Office, Ghana), Leadership and Management (EOCO-Ghana & Commonwealth Secretariat - UK), Financial Crimes Investigations (The US Dept. of State Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs), Cybercrime (UNODC e-Crime Burea), and Anti-Terrorism Financing (UNODC).

 Paul has served as an Adjunct Lecturer in Corporate Crime Investigation and Security Management at Knutsford University College in Accra since 2018, combining academic depth with practical experience. His involvement with ICPD enhances the institution’s research capabilities, particularly in the areas of financial crime prevention, institutional integrity, and public sector accountability