Mohammed Affum is a distinguished journalist and industrial relations practitioner with an extensive career spanning media, labor governance, and public accountability. He brings decades of experience in fostering transparent governance and strengthening institutional frameworks across Ghana's public and private sectors.

Mr. Affum served as Editor of the Ghanaian Chronicle, where he demonstrated his commitment to investigative journalism and editorial excellence. His expertise in labor relations was further evidenced through his role as Public Affairs Officer at the National Labour Commission, where he played a pivotal role in communicating labor policies and fostering dialogue between stakeholders.

Throughout his career, Mr. Affum has held several prestigious board positions that underscore his reputation as a trusted governance expert. He has served on the boards of the National Media Commission, Graphic Communications Group Limited, and the Public Interest and Accountability Committee, contributing his insights to media regulation, corporate governance, and the transparent management of Ghana's natural resource revenues.

Currently, Mr. Affum serves as Coordinator of the Governance Research Bureau, where he continues to advance research and advocacy on governance issues, leveraging his multidisciplinary background to promote accountability, transparency, and effective public administration in Ghana.

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 (I.C.P.D), 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 I.C.P.D’s efforts to strengthen governance systems and build legal frameworks that support the fight against corruption and financial crimes in the public sector.

ACP (Rtd.) Dr. Patience Ashorkor Quaye is a distinguished law enforcement leader, justice advocate, and governance professional with over four decades of service in national and international policing. A retired Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Ghana Police Service, she is widely respected for her integrity, courage, and lifelong commitment to protecting women, children, and vulnerable populations.

Dr. Quaye joined the Ghana Police Service in 1977 and rose through the ranks, serving in strategic roles within the Criminal Investigation Department, Interpol Desk Ghana, the Special Branch (now the National Investigations Bureau), and as Deputy Commandant of the Ghana Police Academy. She also contributed extensively to capacity development as an instructor and lecturer in policing, security, forensics, and investigative psychology.

A pioneer in Ghana’s fight against human trafficking, Dr. Quaye founded the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service and led its establishment across multiple regions. She played a key role in securing Ghana’s first successful human trafficking prosecution, setting a landmark precedent for justice and survivor protection.

Internationally, she has collaborated with the UK Metropolitan Police and served as a trainer and speaker across Africa, Europe, and North America. In 2024, she made history as Second Vice President of the International Association of Women Police (IAWP), becoming only the second African to hold this position in the organization’s century-long history.

Her leadership and impact have earned her global recognition, including commendation from President Barack Obama for her work in combating human trafficking and acknowledgment by Vice President Kamala Harris through U.S. Government–supported initiatives recognizing her as a champion for gender justice and human rights.

Dr. Quaye holds a PhD in Christian Counseling and a Master of Public Administration. Beyond policing, she leads Ashquay Consultancy and Giving Hope Foundation, advancing child education and women’s empowerment. Her values-driven leadership makes her a valuable asset to boards committed to integrity, policy impact, and social transformation.

Charles Nana Antwi is a highly distinguished intelligence professional, legal practitioner, and public sector leader with four decades of dedicated service to the Republic of Ghana. His career spans intelligence operations, investigations, executive leadership, and legal practice, positioning him as a respected authority in national security, governance, and institutional oversight.

Mr. Antwi is a trained Intelligence Officer and qualified Legal Practitioner. He served for 40 years in public service prior to his retirement in 2023, holding critical operational and leadership roles within Ghana’s intelligence and law enforcement architecture. His public sector career includes extensive work as an intelligence operative, investigator, and executive directorate official.

He served with the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), where he held several senior command positions, including Head of the Investigation Department at Headquarters, Regional Commander for the Ashanti Region, and Regional Commander for the Greater Accra Region. His leadership was marked by professionalism, strategic rigor, and a strong commitment to national security and rule of law.

At the executive level, Mr. Antwi served as Deputy Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for six years, contributing significantly to the fight against economic and organized crime and strengthening institutional accountability.

In the private sector, he is an experienced private legal practitioner, bringing practical legal insight to governance, compliance, and dispute resolution.

Beyond his professional career, Mr. Antwi is a revered traditional leader. Since 1994, he has served as the Chief of Akyem Kakoase under the stool name Barima Antwi Asante II, providing traditional leadership and community stewardship.

As a Board Member of the International Centre for Public Development (I.C.P.D), Charles Nana Antwi brings exceptional expertise in intelligence, law, governance, and ethical leadership, reinforcing the Centre’s mission to promote public sector excellence, security, and sustainable development.

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.

Ziblim Saaka is a seasoned governance professional, peace advocate, and counter-terrorism strategist with over two decades of experience advancing public sector reform, leadership development, and anti-corruption initiatives across Africa. He is widely respected for his contributions to peacebuilding, strategic communication, and policy direction that drive sustainable development on the continent.

Mr. Saaka holds an MPhil in Innovation and Communication from the University of Development Studies, Tamale; a Commonwealth Executive MBA from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi; and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Christian Service University, Kumasi. His professional credentials include Chartered Social Media Marketing (UK) and a Certificate in Peace and Intelligence from Muğla University, Turkey.

An accomplished author, he has published extensively on corruption, governance, and African studies. He has also led and advised small- and medium-sized enterprises as well as non-governmental organizations, fostering institutional growth and impact.

Currently, Mr. Saaka serves as Chief Executive Officer of Chartered Digital Social Media Marketing in Ghana. He is also a veteran academic, with over ten years of lecturing experience at Kumasi Technical University and Tamale Technical University, where he teaches governance, communication, and related disciplines.

His professional background includes roles with Guinness Ghana Company Limited and service at the highest levels of government as a Special Assistant in the Office of the President. A widely traveled professional, Mr. Saaka has represented institutions at international conferences, sharing expertise on governance, peace, and development.

As a Board Member of the International Centre for Public Development (I.C.P.D), Ziblim Saaka brings deep strategic insight, cross-sector leadership, and a strong commitment to ethical governance, peace, and inclusive development.

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 (I.C.P.D), 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 Head of Financial Crime Unit, Head of Organised Crime Unit, Team Lead for Special Investigations, Regional Director (Greater Accra Reion), 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 I.C.P.D enhances the institution’s research capabilities, particularly in the areas of financial crime prevention, institutional integrity, and public sector accountability

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.

Salifu James Zirah is a seasoned finance and operations professional with over 20 years of experience in financial management, administrative leadership, and donor-funded program oversight. He brings deep expertise in managing complex, large-scale development programs funded by USAID and other international donors, supporting effective service delivery, accountability, and institutional sustainability.

Mr. Zirah holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Post-Graduate Diploma in Project Management, and has completed Part One of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA), UK. His academic and professional training spans strategic management, project and operations management, grant and procurement compliance, monitoring and evaluation fundamentals, and financial management for U.S. Government–funded programs.

Throughout his career, he has demonstrated strong proficiency in full-cycle grants management, including pre-award and post-award processes, budgeting, financial reporting, sub-contractor oversight, human resource management, procurement planning, and compliance with USAID rules and regulations.

Mr. Zirah currently serves as Director of Finance and Operations at University Research Co., LLC (URC), where he provides strategic financial and operational leadership. Previously, he held senior finance and operations roles with USAID-funded initiatives such as Advancing Nutrition (JSI) and Resiliency in Northern Ghana (RING) with Global Communities. He has also served as Finance and Administrative Manager for Project Fives Alive under the National Catholic Secretariat, and in progressive leadership roles with World Vision Ghana and other development organizations.

Fluent in English, Twi, Mampuli, Dagbani, and Bisa, Mr. Zirah brings strong cross-cultural communication skills and deep local and international development experience.

As a Management Team Member of the International Centre for Public Development (I.C.P.D), Salifu James Zirah contributes robust financial stewardship, operational excellence, and donor-compliant systems that strengthen the Centre’s capacity to deliver high-impact public development programs with transparency and efficiency.

Ellis Asamani is a seasoned development practitioner, economist, and educator with extensive experience in public sector governance, security, institutional development, and capacity building. 

As Centre Coordinator of the International Centre for Public Development (I.C.P.D), he provides strategic leadership and operational oversight in advancing the Centre’s mandate to combat corruption and financial crimes within government and public institutions.

Ellis coordinates the design and implementation of I.C.P.D’s training, research, and institutional strengthening programmes, working with public officials, development partners, and civic institutions to promote transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership in Ghana and across Africa.

Ellis has a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, and brings over 35 years of post-graduation professional experience. His career spans service in the Ghana Navy, higher education teaching and lecturing, business consultancy, and senior public sector leadership, including his role as Deputy Director at South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.

Ellis has contributed to several national and international development initiatives, delivering training and advisory services in entrepreneurship development, financial literacy, skills development, governance, and climate-smart enterprise support. His work reflects a strong commitment to strengthening public institutions and building the capacity of a new generation of ethical, competent, and digitally empowered public servants and civic leaders.

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.