By Morkporkpor Anku, GNAÂ
Accra, Nov. 11, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Mr Gabriel Opoku-Asare, a Presidential Staffer and corporate executive, as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Road Maintenance Trust Fund (RMTF).
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza, inaugurated Mr Opoku-Asare and the 15-member Board at a ceremony held at the Ministry in Accra on Monday.
Mr Opoku-Asare succeeds Mr Isaac Adjei Mensah, Member of Parliament for Wassa East, as Chairman of the Board.
He brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in public policy, international trade and corporate affairs, having worked across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.
He currently serves as a Presidential Staffer and Chief Export Development Officer at the Office of the President, where he leads Ghana’s export transformation agenda, including efforts to expand market access under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He is also an advisory member of the Presidential Committee on Accelerated Export Development, chaired by the President, and a Non-Executive Director of Airtel Ghana Limited (AT Ghana).
Before joining government, Mr Opoku-Asare held various executive positions at Diageo across three continents, including Head of Society for Africa, Executive Director of Corporate Affairs for Southeast Asia and Director of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) for North America.
During his tenure at Diageo, he led sustainability initiatives across 13 African markets and engaged with international institutions, including the African Union, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.
He also served as Chief Public Affairs Officer and a member of the global executive team of pawaTech, a technology company operating in 18 African markets, where he led public affairs and regulatory strategy.
His previous roles included Executive Director of Corporate Relations at Guinness Ghana Breweries, Head of Corporate Affairs at Unilever Ghana, Group Head of Corporate Affairs at the Mohinani Group, and Head of Projects and Customer Relations at K-NET Ghana.
Mr Opoku-Asare also spearheaded a partnership between Diageo and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to integrate drink-driving awareness into Ghana’s national driver’s test.
He co-founded the Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance alongside Unilever, Nestlé and Coca-Cola and has held leadership positions in several industry associations.
His professional achievements include being named Ghana CSR Practitioner of the Year in 2018, recognition as the second-best Corporate Relations Leader globally within Diageo, and receiving three Diageo Global Corporate Relations Awards in 2019.
Mr Opoku-Asare holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Land Economy from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Relations from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.
He has also undertaken executive education programmes at Harvard University and the University of Oxford.
Mr Opoku-Asare, in acceptance, expressed appreciation for the appointment and pledged to promote accountability, value for money and strategic partnerships in the management of road maintenance resources.
He said the Board would collaborate with the Ministry, Parliament, road agencies, the private sector and road users to ensure the effective utilisation of public funds for the maintenance of the country’s road infrastructure.
The members of the Board include Mr Courage Kwabena Barlon, Administrator of the RMTF; Mr Samuel Kwasi Akuaku, Chief Director of the Ministry of Roads and Highways; Mrs Sarah Fafa Kpodo of the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice; and Mrs Grace Fidelia Annan of the Ministry of Finance.
The others are Mr Richard Fedieley of the Ministry of Transport; Mr Amin Abdul-Rahaman of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs; former Member of Parliament for Walewale, Mr Alidu Iddrisu Zakari; Queen Mother Mamaga Sename III; Mrs Victoria Kuma-Mintah; and Mr Adam Awal.
The rest are Sawla Wura Iddrisu Abdulai Nugbaso, Chief of Sawla; Mr Stephen Kwaku Attatsi of the Association of Road Contractors; Rev. Allan Okomeng-Mensah of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors; and Mr Godwin Joseph Brocke of the Ghana Institution of Engineering.
The Road Maintenance Trust Fund was established under the Road Maintenance Trust Fund Act, 2025 (Act 1147), replacing the former Road Fund.
The Fund is governed by a Board of Trustees comprising representatives of government, professional bodies, traditional authorities, contractors, civil society and road users, and is subject to parliamentary oversight and independent audit.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Morkporkpor AnkuÂ
[email protected]Â