The Board

Jerry Samuel Yaw Kuma was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, Ghana from October 2012 to October 2020 and until recently, the Rector of Perez University College, Pomadze, Winneba. He is a Professor of Environmental Hydrogeology and Geophysics. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Geology and Physics from University of Ghana, Legon awarded him in 1985. He received the PG Dip and MSc (with distinction) degrees in Geophysics at ITC, Enschede, The Netherlands in 1990 and 1991 respectively. In 2002, Professor Kuma was awarded the PhD in Water Resources Engineering from the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Prof Kuma is actively involved in researching the hydrology of mining districts and other water resources management issues in Ghana. He was the Ghana Chamber of Mines sponsored Professorial Chair of Environmental Studies at UMaT from 2009 to 2020. He was part of the team of scientists and engineers who received the Queens Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education (Won by Univ. of Newcastle upon Tyne) in 2005. He received the Nobles International Award for being an eminent West African who upholds the virtues of honesty, integrity and accountability in November 2013. In June 2014, the World Congress of Chancellors and Vice Chancellors meeting in Mumbai, India, gave Prof Kuma an award for his “outstanding contribution to education”. In December 2015, he received the Africa Education Leadership Award in Mauritius.
In June 2016, through Prof Kuma’s leadership, the University of Mines and Technology received the European Society for Quality Research (ESQR) Award in the gold category for quality management. Also, in June 2016, the World Education Congress presented him an awarded for being one of “100 most influential Vice Chancellors”. Again, in June 2016, he was inducted into the Nobles Club 100 by West Africa Nobles Forum. In July 2016 he received the International Business Star Quality (IBSQ) Award for being one of the “most outstanding professionals in Africa for his “track record of outstanding business performance and exceptional commitment to leadership quality”.
Prof Kuma is a Fellow of the Ghana Institution of Geoscientists (GhIG), Fellow of the African Scientific Institute (ASI), Fellow of West Africa Institute of Mining, Minerals and Petroleum (WAIMM), Fellow of the Institute of Directors (IOD) Ghana, Member of Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE) and a Member of International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH).

Sylvester Akpah has over six (6) years’ experience in NGO management. Presently, as the Chief Executive Officer of Firm Health Ghana Foundation, Sylvester leads a team of 15 medical and administrative staff to advocate for the risk factors of kidney health. At the moment, the foundation has implemented four (4) major interventions in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, namely: a weekly public health education program on Dynamite FM (88.9), quarterly free kidney screening, monthly 5K health walks with aerobics sessions, and a diabetes and hypertension clinic.
Sylvester is a Lecturer in the Computer Science and Engineering Department of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), specializing in network infrastructure deployment, wireless security, software engineering, and web technologies. He holds an MSc and BSc in Information Technology from the Ghana Technology University College (Ghana) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), respectively. Sylvester also volunteers as the Western Regional Coordinator for Operation Smile Ghana, an NGO that provides free medical surgeries to persons with facial deformities, specifically cleft lip/palate. He is a 2018 Mandela Washington Fellow of Drexel University (Philadelphia). Sylvester enjoys watching football and exercising.

Florence Ansere-Bioh is the Community Affairs and Public Relations Manager of Gold Fields, Tarkwa Mine. She is responsible for ensuring that the communities around the mine get sustainable benefits from the mine and also ensures that the negative impacts are minimized. Prior to joining the Gold Fields, Florence had worked in other mining companies such as Perseus, Newmont, AngloGold Ashanti and Pelangio in different capacities for the past twelve years. Before Florence joined the mining sector, she worked as a Rural Sociologist and Research Scientist at the Crops Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for over a decade characterizing farmers’ circumstances and screening grower recommendations for social acceptance and economic feasibility. Florence’s work has always been in the communities but she has also had a stint in the corporate world working as a Human Resource and External Relations Manager for a reputable book selling company. Florence has vast experience in Community relations and communication, exploring local people’s perspectives, land access and use, mitigation programs for farmers, sustainable local development and conflict management. She attended Aburi Girls and Saint Louis Secondary Schools for her Ordinary and Advanced Levels respectively. She holds Master of Philosophy and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology from the University of Ghana. Florence is passionate about gender and environmental issues. Florence is married with children.

Kwasi has vast expertise and experience in Ghana’s minerals and mining industry. He combines in-depth knowledge of the legal and regulatory regime of the Ghanaian mining industry with practical understanding of the business and environmental, social and governance issues in mining. He advises clients on complex transactions and wide- ranging issues along the minerals and mining value chain in Ghana. Kwasi has been a lawyer at Ghana’s Minerals Commission for more than seven (7) years, where he has been involved in mineral and mining policy and regulatory and compliance issues. He has been involved in the formulation of key mining legislation including the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation Act, 2018 (Act 976); the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation Act, 2019 (Act 988); the Minerals and Mining (Ground Rent) Regulations, 2018 (LI 2357); the Minerals and Mining (Tracking of Earth Moving and Mining Equipment) Regulations, 2020 (LI 2404) and the Minerals and Mining (Local Content and Local Participation) Regulations, 2020 (LI 2431). Kwasi has also served on various mining-focused committees including, the Negotiation sub-committee of the Ghana Mining Review and Negotiation Committee, which reviewed and renegotiated some of Ghana’s mining stability and development agreements; Committee that developed Model Stability and Development Agreements for Ghana’s mining industry; Committee that formulated Draft Environmental Regulations for Mining in Forest Reserves, and the Environment Working Group of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC). Between October 2019 and August 2020, he taught Environmental Law as an adjunct lecturer at the Lancaster University Ghana.

As Chief Technical Officer and Head of Operations, Kwabena oversees Business Development, Technical Services and the Research Unit of the Fund. He is responsible for improving revenue mobilization, identifying investment opportunities along the mining value chain, and ensuring maximization of value through post-investment monitoring and evaluation. He is also a member of MIIF’s Executive Management Team. Kwabena brings over 28 years of corporate experience having worked in several countries across sub-Saharan Africa in various capacities in Technical, Management and Executive Leadership for SGS, one of the world’s biggest multinational service providers. He previously served as Vice President, Africa for SGS (2018 -19) in charge of Mine Support Services where he focused on business development and optimization. As the Regional Managing Director for French West Africa for nearly 5 years, Kwabena prudently managed diverse teams across multi-sectorial business lines to bring about double-digit revenue growth and massive improvement to the bottom line. Prior to that he was responsible for Tropical Southern Africa for over 7 years, leading the business to register significant growth and transformation in the base metals industry across the entire Copperbelt regions of the DR Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana. Kwabena spent a considerable amount of time from 1994 – 2005 working in various Gold Mining enclaves within Ghana and the sub-region leading diverse teams in operations and business development. Kwabena holds an MBA from the University of Leicester (2008) and a BSc (Hons) Chemistry with Geology from the University of Ghana (1992). He is proficient in French, a member of the Ghana Institute of Directors and the Ghana Institute of Geoscientists.

Dr. Joseph Darko is a dedicated medical professional who wears two hats: Director of Medical Services for the Firm Health Ghana Foundation and Medical Superintendent of Government Hospital in Bogoso. Dr. Darko’s passion lies in ensuring everyone has access to quality healthcare. He leads the Firm Health Ghana Foundation in organizing medical outreaches to deprived communities, bringing much-needed medical care directly to those who would otherwise struggle to receive it. Dr. Darko obtained his MBChB from the University of Ghana Medical School and went on to earn an MPH (Management of Health Systems) from the University of Liverpool. This expertise in managing scarce resources is invaluable in both his roles. His leadership extends beyond the Foundation. Dr. Darko also serves as the Medical Superintendent of Government Hospital in Bogoso. Here, he leverages his experience to maximize results and ensure optimal patient care by ensuring that all departments function cohesively and efficiently. Dr. Darko’s courage and exceptional leadership were recently recognized by the State of Ghana. He was awarded the Grand Medal for his outstanding performance as the Head of the Emergency Response and Training teams in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when information on the disease was limited, Dr. Darko led his team in conducting the country's first emergency Caesarean Section on a pregnant COVID-19 patient. This act of bravery and medical expertise saved lives. Furthermore, his expertise proved crucial during Ghana's first Marburg Virus Disease outbreak in 2022. He assembled a team of dedicated healthcare professionals who successfully managed the only surviving patient. For his exceptional leadership during this crisis, he was honored by the Ghana Health Service. When not serving his community, Dr. Darko enjoys maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercise, socializing with friends, and exploring new cultures. Dr. Joseph Darko is a true leader in healthcare delivery, making a positive impact on both the medical systems he manages and the lives he touches.

Michael Fynn Hammond holds a Master of Business Administration (HRM) degree and a Bachelor of Education (Management) degree from the University of Cape Coast. Currently, he serves as an Assistant Registrar at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa. Michael is passionate about issues related to organizational management, education, and public policy. In 2016, Michael was among 119 participants selected from across West Africa, chosen out of over 2,000 applicants for the fifth cohort of the USAID-funded Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) at the Accra Regional Leadership Centre. Additionally, he is a member of the Weducate Initiative, a capacity-building organization focused on empowering low-resource communities in the northern part of Ghana towards a sustainable future. Michael enjoys watching movies and playing football.