Herman Chinery-Hesse is the founder and chairman of SOFTtribe, Ghana’s leading software development agency.  Having been born in Ireland, educated in the US, and having gone on to work in the UK, Chinery-Hesse moved to Ghana in 1990 determined to be part of the wave of Africans taking control of the continent’s future.

In Chinery-Hesse’s opinion, the only way to develop the continent is through clever Africans seizing upon and effectively using the mobile and internet technologies that are spreading across Africa.

The first important premise necessary for growth, Chinery-Hesse says, is that Africans become empowered and take over the reins.  He explains:  “Only Africans can develop Africa. I don’t know of any country in the world, once again, where a bunch of foreigners came and developed the country… I don’t know where that formula is coming from; there’s no precedent… We have to sink or swim ourselves. And Africa can!”

He laments the fact that the African population lacks the insight to understand that while infrastructure on the continent may be lacking, the human resources for excellence are present.  He notes: “Technology is the only way for Africa to get rich. We don’t have proper infrastructure and we can’t compete in manufacturing. But if you put me behind a PC and tell me to write software for a Chinese customer, then I can compete brain for brain with anyone trying to do the same thing in the US.”

Next, Africans must harness the networking power that mobile technologies have presented to the continent.  In a location which has a 1 billion population spread across a 31.2 million square kilometre area – often without good transport connections – the consumer demand is abundant.  With the advent of mobile communications, entrepreneurs are placed in an ideal position to reach out and respond to demands.

“Our rural populations were in a black hole…You couldn’t speak to them. You had to go on a screwed-up road and cross a river and so on but today they all have mobile phones.  Suddenly they’re part of a mobile community and that’s 50% of our population. It’s boom time, you can sell them all kinds of things from shoes to cement to building materials… it’s made things efficient. Even if you have to drive to the village, you don’t go there blind; you make sure Kofi is home first,” the “Bill Gates of Ghana” comments.

And finally, he extols the importance of internet in the development process – a theme that is being increasingly taken up by businesses and politicians alike, as the continent pushes to expand internet penetration.  He notes of the population in Africa: “some have internet and suddenly people are getting educated online, trading online, and this is the future.”

Fiercely dedicated to the African continent, Chinery-Hesse came to Ghana in 1990 and began developing software relevant to the African market on his personal computer, from his parents’ home.  Soon out-growing the bedroom, he moved to the house’s garage to continue developing his programs while growing his reputation and customer base.

Before he knew it, SOFTtribe became the leading business management software developer in the country, and was providing services to over 250 highly-reputed customers, including Guinness, Nestle, Unilever and the Ford Foundation, to name but a few.  SOFTtribe is also a Microsoft development partner.

Chinery-Hesse has earned himself a global reputation, and aside from being dubbed “Ghana’s Bill Gates”, has received global recognition through a number of awards.  In 2005, he received a Millennium Excellence Award for IT (his second nomination for the award); and has also been recognised as an Outstanding Ghanaian Professional by UK-based GPA Awards, as well as being bestowed with the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Texas State Alumni Association and Texas State University-San Marcos (USA), making him the first and currently only African to receive the award.

Humble and renowned for his sense of humour, Chinery-Hesse believes in patience and honesty in all aspects of life – including business.

Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu (born 25th August 1984) is a Ghanaian model, TV show host and a fine graphic artist. She was born in Ghana to an Ashanti father and Romanian mother. Being from two different cultures gave her the ability to see things from more than one perspective and thus made her open to diversity, readily identifying the beauty in things as well as developing a genuine interest in people and cultures. Ultimately it led her to being an extrovert woman with outstanding social skills.

Deborah grew up in Accra, attended Christ the King Int. Sch., then Wesley Girls High Sch. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Publishing Studies from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana followed by a Master Degree in Book/Journal Publishing from the University of the Arts London in the UK. She has shown her professionalism and passion for her chosen field by working successfully for both small enterprises as well as big corporations in Ghana, the United States and United Kingdom.

Deborah Vanessa is the sister of popular Ghanaian musician Wanlov the Kubolor (Emmanuel Owusu-Bonsu) and daughter of an Ashanti man and a Romanian woman.

Francis Kofi Ampenyin Allotey (born August 9, 1932) is a renowned Ghanaian physicist and mathematician. A founding fellow of the African Academy of Sciences, in 1974 he became the first Ghanaian full professor of Mathematics and head of the Department of Mathematics at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He is the President of the African Physical Society, Director of the Institute for Mathematical Sciences (Ghana), Member of the Council at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (Treiste, Italy), former Pro-Vice Chancellor KNUST, Former Chairman, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Former Chairman, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (Ghana).

Dr. Allotey has been a phenomenal inspirer and influence in the study of Physics and Mathematics in Ghanaian Schools, Colleges and Universities and he has become a living legend. He played no mean part in the establishment of the Laser Research Unit in the Physics Department of the University of Cape Coast, projected to be a Centre of excellence to serve the whole of the West Africa Sub-Region.

Prof Allotey, a prodigy born in August 1932 to a humble parentage at Saltpond in the Central Region of Ghana, received his early education at the Ghana National College among the 1952 pioneer group. He pursued further studies at the University Tutorial College, London Borough Polytechnic and London Imperial College of Science and Technology where he obtained the then coveted Diploma of Imperial College (London) in 1960.

He became a world authority and an instant fame with his work on Soft X-Ray Spectroscopy which established the principle widely known as the “Allotey Formalism” for which he received the Prince Philip Gold Medal Award in 1973.

Natasha Ama Wonder born (20th November 1993) is a College student who was born and raised in Germany. She is a photo/print model who is striving to take her modelling to the next level. As a Ghanaian living abroad, she is fluent in German, English and Twi.

Ama likes to sing as well, especially Gospel songs. She is a Methodist and aspires to be a midwife in the future. She lives with her parents in Hamburg, Germany and has an elder sister living in Ghana.

You can reach her on Facebook and Twitter @FashCookie

Sarkodie Obidi simply known as Sarkodie (born Micheal Owusu) is a hiplife/hiphop artist making a whole lot of waves on Ghana’s music scene. His ability to string several words together in a very fast pace puts him in a league of his own.

Sarkodie was highly inspired by Obrafuor’s blazing “Pae mu ka” album. He has battled more than 15 MC’s on the award wining show called Kasahare on Adom Fm and had K.O. (knocked out) each of the MC’s which is judged by the listening public.

Sarkodie after a long stay in the underground,no doubt that he has become one of hiplife cultural magnet in recent times turning up in one of the most talk about Easter festive events, from Adom Fm Easter charity show to Kwahu MTN Easter bash to the Coca Cola Easter beach bash at the Labardi beach . What makes his accomplishment truly amazing is that Sarkodie, at the heart of it all, is still just the shy, calm and respectful dude.

Ama Konadu Abebrese simply called Ama K. Abebrese is award-winning Ghanaian actress, television presenter, producer. She started her training at ‘Youth Culture Television’ in London, an organisation started by Sabrina Guinness on the TV show Challenge Anneka. She was a presenter on BBC2′s youth show Pass da Mic and the English File educational series.
Ama was a regular TV presenter on OBE TV, hosting and producing on a number of shows including One Touch, and the entertainment chat show On The Sofa, where guests she has interviewed range from Akon to Ziggy Marley.

Her film credits include the International multi award winning film Sinking Sands, directed by 2011 “BAFTA LA” and “Pan African Film festival” prize winner Leila Djansi. The film received 12 nominations in the 2010 “Ghana Movie Awards”, including “Best Actress” in a Leading Role, the film won 4 awards, including “Best Film”. Others film credits are Revele film’s “Elmina” and London Get Problem. She holds a BA in Media Arts and Drama obtained at ‘St Mary’s University College’ in Surrey. She is the Head of Local productions at Viasat 1 television station in Ghana.

Ama K. Abebrese’s website is www.amakonline.com and she can be followed on Twitter @Ama_K_Abebrese

Yvonne Nelson a former Miss Ghana contestant, entered onto the Ghanaian movie scene with big-screen roles in Princess Tyra and Playboy.
Yvonne Nelson (born 12th November 1985) is a daughter of Miss Margaret Gaddy and Mr. O. Nelson in Accra. She spent her early years in Dansoman, Accra. She enrolled in Pope John Paul nursery then moved on to St. Martins for my basic education.

Yvonne then attend Aggrey memorial Senior High School where she studied for her WAEC exams. She pursued a bachelor’s degree in Administration, Human resource management option at Central University.

Mr. James Ebo Whyte, popularly known as Uncle Ebo Whyte is known nationwide as a Playwright and Motivational Speaker.

Uncle Ebo Whyte successfully directed and produced plays he’s written, among which are the much acclaimed and received “Unhappy Wives Confused Husbands”; “Terms of Divorce” and “Caught in the Act”. He produces these plays on quarterly bases.

You can connect with Uncle Ebo Whyte on his Facebook page www.facebook.com/UncleEboWhyte

David Dontoh has enjoyed a successful career spanning over thirty years. A star of stage and screen, David first came to light when he won his first Best Actor award for a play called Mambo in 1984. As well as starring in Ghana’s first feature to be shown in Europe.

David has also appeared alongside accomplished actors such as Danny Glover. He is widely regarded as one of Africa’s finest actors.

Filmography (International):
Ties That Bind (2011)
The Dead (2010)
Penicillin (2009)
Warrior Queen (2009)
No Time to Die (2006)
Welcome Home (2004)
Victim of Love (1998)
Victim of Love 2 (1998)
Deadly Voyage (1996)
Confessions (1993)
Heritage Africa (1989)