The President of Ghana has made significant appointments to top positions in key institutions, effective Tuesday, January 21, 2025. Renowned football administrator and media personality, Dr. Ransford Abbey, has been appointed as the acting Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). Meanwhile, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong has been appointed as the acting Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). These changes mark an important shift in leadership at these institutions.
In addition to the earlier appointments, retired Commissioner of Police Dr. Benjamin Agordzor has been appointed to the National Security Council Secretariat, where he will oversee Human Resource affairs.
Meanwhile, Mr. Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, who is now the acting Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), is also the Senior Partner at KPMG Practice in Ghana, bringing significant expertise in finance and management to his new role.
Mr. Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, the newly appointed acting Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has a distinguished career in accounting and finance. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Senior Partner at KPMG Ghana from June 2019. Before that, he was a Partner and Head of Audit at KPMG, where he also led the Financial Services sector and served as the firm’s Risk Management Partner.
With over 21 years of experience, Mr. Sarpong has provided audit and advisory services across several sectors, including Financial Services, Consumer and Industrial Markets (CIM), and Telecom, Media, and Technology. He has led some of KPMG’s largest and most complex cross-functional engagements. Mr. Sarpong is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and the Ghana Association of Restructuring and Insolvency Advisors (GARIA). His extensive background positions him well to take on the leadership role at the GRA.
Mr. Anthony Kwasi Sarpong is also actively involved in several professional and community organizations. He serves as a member of the University of Ghana Business School’s Advisory Board, Vice President of the St. Teresa’s Old Boys’ Association (STOBA) in Nigeria, Chairman of the Mary Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Parish (MMGCCP) Education Endowment Fund, and Acting Chairman of ENACTUS, Ghana.
His academic credentials include an MSc in Financial Risk Management from London Metropolitan University, UK, a Post-graduate Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Manchester, UK, and a First Class Honours in Business Administration from the University of Ghana. Additionally, he holds a professional certificate in Taxation from the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Ghana, and a certificate in Investment and Securities from the Ghana Stock Exchange.
On the other hand, Dr. Ransford Abbey, who has been appointed the acting Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), brings over 20 years of experience in the local media industry. His career has spanned across various platforms, with particular expertise in radio and television.
Dr. Ransford Abbey, the newly appointed acting Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has had a distinguished career in both media and football administration. He recently retired from media practice, concluding nearly 25 years of service on Metro TV’s flagship Good Morning Ghana morning show. Prior to his time at Metro TV, he worked with Radio Gold and Choice FM, two well-known private broadcasters in Ghana.
Dr. Abbey’s involvement in football administration dates back to his work with Accra Hearts of Oak, where he first served as the Head of Public Relations before becoming a full management member. His extensive experience in both media and sports management brings a wealth of leadership and strategic insight to his new role at COCOBOD.
Dr. Ransford Abbey has made significant contributions to football administration in Ghana. He rose to prominence in 2006 when he became a member of the Executive Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), following the transition of the local football structure into a club-based management system.
His involvement in national football extended to various management roles, including serving as the head of the Black Meteors Management Board. Under his leadership, the Black Meteors won gold at the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique. Dr. Abbey has also been a prominent figure on numerous management bodies for national teams, further cementing his status as a key figure in Ghana’s football landscape. This extensive background in both media and sports management equips him with valuable skills for his new role as acting CEO of COCOBOD.
Dr. Ransford Abbey, the newly appointed acting Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), is an accomplished individual with a robust background in both football administration and media. He holds a certificate in Human Resource Management and Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), as well as an advanced certificate in Public Relations, Advertising, and Marketing from the Ghana Institute of Journalism. Dr. Abbey also holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), further solidifying his expertise in leadership and management.
Meanwhile, Dr. Benjamin Agordzor, appointed to the National Security Council Secretariat, brings over 26 years of experience in the police force. He has a diverse career spanning investigations, training, human resource development, and police operations. Dr. Agordzor is an international expert in training, lecturing, facilitation, and peacekeeping, with experience in Sudan and Somalia. He holds an MPhil from the Norsk Lærerakademi in Bergen, Norway, and a PhD in Human Rights and Politics from the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, Italy.
His PhD research focused on peacekeeping, peace-building, and human rights, with particular attention to security sector reforms, women, peace, and security. Dr. Agordzor also served as the Director of Operations at the Ghana Police Headquarters, where he applied his international expertise to the planning of security activities, notably during the 2016 elections. His extensive background in law enforcement and international peacekeeping positions him well to oversee Human Resource affairs at the National Security Council Secretariat.
