Mrs. Mawuena Adzo Trebarh was the first female to be appointed substantive Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) from April 2013 – January 2017
GIPC is the government agency charged with the facilitation and promotion of investments in all sectors of the Ghanaian economy. Prior to this, she was the Founding Director and Chief Business Strategist of Inspire Africa Consult Limited, a business strategy-consulting firm.
As the CEO of GIPC, Mawuena was at the helm of Ghana’s investment drive. Her focus was on promoting specific projects in key areas for investment by local and foreign investors. At the start of her tenure in 2013, the new GIPC Law, Act 865 was passed by parliament. She was a key influencer for educating the Centre’s stakeholders on the importance of adhering to the contents of the Act through various engagements and forums.
Her passion and creative approach to finding solutions to various challenges has changed the face of GIPC to one that is customer focused to better facilitate the investor. Her initiatives over time have lifted the Centre’s image and improved the work culture of its staff as well as relations with stakeholders.
Under her leadership, the Centre for the first time, won the prestigious award for the best Investment Promotion Agency in Western and Central Africa, beating the likes of Rwanda and Nigeria. The Centre also realized a surge in foreign direct investment despite the challenging economic climate during her tenure. In the first quarter of 2015 foreign direct investment of USD 112.2 billion was recorded, representing an increase of over 1000% over the same period in 2014.
Mawuena has been recognized through a number of national and international awards including the Millennium Leadership Forum Award for championing excellence in trade investment and agro-processing and the National Youth Role Model Award for being a role model and youth leader.
Her extensive and diverse experience in senior executive positions in Ashanti Goldfields Company Ltd starting as their first female underground exploration geologist, Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd., head of Corporate Communications and Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) as head of Corporate Services driving the reputation Management of the company’s USD $ 1 billion plus investment, has allowed her to contribute immensely to the mining and telecommunications sectors. With these, she has an applied wealth of expertise across other sectors of the Ghanaian economy.
With a background and recognition as an astute strategist, she believes in the need for continuous value creation. Mawuena is passionate and believes strongly in service to society and humanity.
