Ekwow Spio-Garbrah

Ekwow Spio-Garbrah
Ekwow Spio-Garbrah
Born	1953; Kumasi, Ghana
Occupation(s)	Politician, Business executive
Known for	Minister for Trade and Industry (2014–2017), Minister of Communications, Minister of Education, Ambassador to the United States and Mexico

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025

Ekwow Spio-Garbrah (born 1953) is a prominent Ghanaian politician who held the position of Minister for Trade and Industry from 2014 until 2017 under the Mahama administration. Earlier in his career, he occupied significant posts including Minister of Communications, Minister of Education, and Acting Minister of Mines & Energy during the Rawlings era. Additionally, he represented Ghana as ambassador to both the United States and Mexico. He has also been the chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation.

Currently, Spio-Garbrah leads the African Business Centre for Developing Education (ABCDE) in Ghana and has been at the helm of various Pan-African non-governmental organizations. His professional background encompasses leadership roles in banking, financial services, and faith-based organizations. He presently serves as chairman of Solarfi, a company specializing in renewable energy.

Early life

Born at Okomfo Anokye Hospital in Kumasi, Spio-Garbrah is the son of Britton Spio-Garbrah, a former Ghanaian ambassador, and Elizabeth Spio-Garbrah, a nurse, midwife, and poet.

His schooling began at King Tackie School located in Accra. His father was instrumental in establishing the Konongu Odumase Secondary School, where he was also the inaugural headmaster. Both of his parents originate from Ghana's Central and Western regions.

Spio-Garbrah attended Achimota School before earning a B.A. degree in English from the University of Ghana. He pursued master's level coursework in communications at the same university, obtained an MA in International Affairs from Ohio University, and completed a graduate certificate in International Banking and Finance at New York University in 1984.

Early career

In his initial professional years, Spio-Garbrah worked as a mortgage banker in New Jersey, held a sales executive role at Southwestern Bell, and chaired the Middle East Africa Group at the global public relations firm Hill and Knowlton based in New York. Between 1979 and 1985, he provided advisory services to governments such as those of Indonesia, Turkey, the Netherlands, and Austria on matters related to investment attraction, export enhancement, and tourism promotion. Concurrently, he offered financial relations consultancy to organizations including the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Crédit Agricole, UBAF-Arab American Bank, and OPEC.

From 1988 through 1991, he occupied the role of Corporate Relations Officer at the International Finance Corporation, an affiliate of the World Bank. Subsequently, between 1991 and 1994, he was Head of Communication at the African Development Bank, where he managed global corporate marketing communications and served as the institution’s official spokesperson.

Ambassador to the United States

During his tenure as Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States from 1994 to 1997, Spio-Garbrah played a pivotal role in enhancing Ghana’s reputation throughout America. Notably, he orchestrated an unprecedented investment promotion tour spanning eight U.S. cities for President H.E. Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings. These initiatives helped position Ghana as the first African country visited by U.S. President Bill Clinton during his 1998 Africa tour. Following this period, Ghana secured support from the Millennium Challenge Account and welcomed visits from Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, becoming unique among sub-Saharan African nations for hosting all three U.S. presidents.

Minister of Communication

Between 1997 and 1998, Spio-Garbrah held the position of Ghana's Minister of Communication, where he crafted and executed policies facilitating the integration of telecommunications, broadcasting, internet services, publishing, news media, and postal operations under his jurisdiction. As chairman of the National Communication Authority (NCA), he oversaw regulation across the telecom, internet, and broadcasting industries. Additionally, he chaired the Public Education Committee that successfully reinstated VAT in Ghana, a move that has since generated substantial revenue for socio-economic progress and infrastructure projects.

Education Minister

During his tenure as Education Minister from 1998 to 2001, Spio-Garbrah was instrumental in founding the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), which has accumulated billions of US dollars dedicated to educational infrastructure, transportation, equipment procurement, and scholarship programs. The legislation establishing GETFund is recognized as one of the most impactful reforms within Africa’s education sector.

Minister for Trade and Industry

From 2014 until January 2017, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah served as Ghana’s Minister for Trade and Industry. In this capacity, he directed the development of national policies and laws related to both domestic and international trade, fostering industrial expansion and encouraging private sector partnerships to boost Ghana’s global competitiveness. His responsibilities included oversight of agencies such as the Ghana Free Zones Board, Ghana Export Promotion Authority, National Standards Authority, National Board for Small Scale Industries, and the Rural Enterprises Programme.

Other appointments

In September 2021, Spio-Garbrah was appointed President for Africa and Global Managing Director by the UK-based Global ECO Capacity Exchange (ECO). This role followed nearly 45 years of leadership experience on the international stage.

CEO Christian Action Faith Ministries

In 2011, Spio-Garbrah assumed the role of CEO at Christian Action Faith Ministries International, a worldwide charismatic organization with millions of adherents. He became the first individual to serve as CEO within a Christian denomination in Ghana. The church’s founder, Nicholas Duncan-Williams, is married to US trade specialist Rosa Whitaker, who previously served as US Under Secretary for Africa.

President Dominion University College

From 2012 to 2014, Spio-Garbrah was President of Dominion University College in Accra, a private Christian institution established by Nicholas Duncan-Williams. He managed strategic direction, financial governance, and administrative functions during his leadership.

Presidential bid

In December 2006, Spio-Garbrah ran for leadership of Ghana’s primary opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), earning 8.7% of votes and finishing second behind John Atta Mills, who subsequently won the 2008 presidential election. He continues to be an influential figure within the ruling NDC and was elected vice chairman on 15 January 2010. Moreover, he served as the party’s Director of Communications from 2001 to 2003.

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