Grace Ossongo – Yaounde, Cameroon
Picture a strong, independent and rock solid determined powerful African woman and render that mental image and Kosi Yankey is exactly who comes up.
She is the Founder and CEO of Nuba Foods and Commodities, an organisation helping to bridge the gap between local farmers and industries in the West African sub-region by sourcing agricultural raw materials from smallholder farmers and supplying them to the industries.
The Ghana-based company, which presently engages over 100 women and farmers, also processes and markets a range of specialty foods.
Mrs. Kosi Yankey’s exploit don’t end with Nuba Foods, in fact, we have barely scratched the surface of just exactly what this woman is capable of.
Kosi Yankey is on a mission to influence and promote SMEs throughout Ghana 🇬🇭 in her capacity as Executive Director of the National Board for Small Scale Industries.
She has a particular interest in supporting female and young entrepreneurs. Her goal is clear, but it will require a lot of attention, commitment, and the required assistance. Prior to taking on her current position, Mrs. Kosi had gained more than 17 years of experience working in the USA, Europe, and West Africa, where she honed her skills in business development, finance, entrepreneurship, and policy development.
Additionally, she has worked for companies including UBS, Merill Lynch, Citigroup, Solidaridad, and ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS in Ghana, the UK, and the US. While working as an intern on the Africa Desk at UBS London during the privatization era, Kosi Yankey conducted research and developed a proposal for governments on how to divest state-owned enterprises.
Mrs. Kosi is the first woman to serve as Executive Director of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA). Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has charged GEA with supporting and expanding Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. Her leadership has contributed to the development and promotion of MSMEs at NBSSI. She is also a board member of the Accra Digital Centre, a member of several economic committees, and an advisor on the advisory council for the ministry of finance.
Her extensive background in finance and microfinance has aided in expanding the board’s operations. She has received a myriad of accolades in both her professional life and her academic career.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard and a Master’s in public administration and public policy from the John F. kennedy School of government. From day one her main goal has always been to empower Africans especially women “to take up entrepreneurship not just as an occupation or a job but as a way of life”, in her own words.
