Suresh is CEO and founder of B-Certified CLOWD9, the world’s first cloud native, decentralized payments issuer-processing platform. Born in the cloud, the platform delivers uncompromising, limitless payments technology around the globe.

Suresh is a highly experienced senior executive with a proven track record of leading rapid growth companies. He has expertise in developing products and services on behalf of both, financial technology, as well as FCA regulated companies.

Bringing a wealth of knowledge in global payments with a number of prior senior roles including President & Managing Director of Global Processing Services now known as Thredd, as well as FTSE companies such as Paysafe Group and PXP Financial, Suresh has represented the Fintech sector and the UK Government on a number of trade missions to Mexico, Australia and China.

He has a substantial understanding of electronic money, throughout its complete value chain, with strategic knowledge on what works and does not work in various international markets having worked with many unicorns from inception including Monzo and Starling Bank.

In 2011, Suresh launched the first ever contactless wristwatch in the UK. This is in addition to being responsible for launching the first App controlled NFC solution for the iPhone in Europe.

In 2015, Suresh helped Revolut launch its idea to the market by being their first issuer and Bin Sponsor.

In 2017 Suresh became the first non-American in its 11-year history to be awarded the prestigious Industry achievement award by PAY magazine and, In 2018 Suresh was voted #1 in the Payments Power 10, an annual top ten list of key influencers in the payments industry voted by the industry.

Suresh was selected to join the working group for the Payment Strategy Forum which helped shape changes in the payments industry that the FCA implemented through the Payment Systems Regulator.

Ivy Apea Owusu stands as a formidable force in the energy sector, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Cirrus Oil Services LTD. With over 20 years of experience, Ivy has been pivotal in driving the successful implementation of downstream sector deregulation policies in Ghana.

Her expertise in Energy Structured Finance, honed during her tenure with GE Capital in the US and UK, spans Debt and Equity financing across Oil & Gas, Power Generation, Renewable and Ancillary Energy sectors. Beyond her corporate achievements, Ivy is a dedicated business leader, championing community health and education initiatives. 

Her influence extends to various boards, including the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) where she currently serves as the Board Chair, Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Woodfields Energy Resources LTD, Legacy Bonds LTD and the Commercial and Allied Services (CAS) Cluster of Jospong Group. As a member of the Private Enterprise Federation (PEF), the Management Committee of School of Arts – University of Ghana, Executive Women’s Network (EWN), the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and a Corporate Executive in Residence for University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) Department of Accounting, she actively promotes the advancement of youth and women in leadership.

Ivy’s thought leadership is widely recognized, with speaking engagements at prestigious events such as the 2024 PETROSOL Women in leadership conference, the 2024 Ghana Female CEO Summit, the 2023 Ghana Mining and Energy Summit, 2022 USAID Power Energy Africa Conference, the 2022 University of Ghana School of Humanities Graduation Ceremony, ABSA Bank Ghana International Women’s Day, and African Refiners Association South Africa. Her academic credentials are equally impressive, holding leadership certificates from Harvard and Stanford Business Schools, an MBA from Vanderbilt University, and a BA in Accounting and Economics from the University of Ghana.

Her accolades include HR Oriented CEO Award, Exceptional Woman in Oil & Gas Award, Oil and Gas personality of the year and recognition as one of the top 20 Matriarchs in Corporate Ghana by Instinct Business Magazine. Celebrated as a pioneer in the downstream oil and gas industry and longest-serving Board member at CBOD, Ivy’s contributions continue to inspire many, making her a true matriarch of the African energy landscape.

Ivy is married with two children

George Nenyi Kojo Andah is a seasoned business leader and strategist with nearly three decades of experience driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence across the FMCG, telecommunications, and public sectors in Ghana and Nigeria. With a proven track record of delivering results through strategic brand building, digital transformation, and forging strong partnerships, George is widely recognized as a thought leader and a highly sought-after speaker on marketing and strategy.

George has held pivotal leadership roles, including Chief Marketing Officer at Scancom Limited (MTN), Chief Marketing Officer at Airtel Nigeria, and Chief Operating Officer at Globacom Ghana. In these roles, he successfully spearheaded rebranding initiatives, launched impactful marketing campaigns, and expanded market share. As Marketing Director at Guinness Ghana Breweries (Diageo), his efforts bolstered brand equity and delivered significant growth. Most recently, George served as the CEO of Asaase Broadcasting Company from January 2023 to November 2024, where he led the company’s strategic transformation and growth agenda.

In December 2024, George was appointed Chief Operating Officer of NextGen InfraCo, where he brings his extensive expertise in strategy execution, market leadership, and stakeholder engagement to the infrastructure sector. His leadership focuses on fostering partnerships that deliver value for investors, drive sustainable growth, and create meaningful impact in communities.

A full member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (FCIM), George is a passionate advocate for good governance and community development. He has served as a Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister for Communications in Ghana, championing initiatives to enhance transparency and accountability. As a founding member of OccupyGhana, George continues to inspire civic engagement and reform in both public and private sectors.

George holds a BSc in Biochemistry from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and an MBA from the University of Ghana Business School. Beyond his professional accomplishments, George is a devoted family man, married to Yaa Asantewaa Barning-Andah, and the proud father of four children.

Widely respected for his insights and leadership, George Andah remains committed to empowering organizations, mentoring future leaders, and shaping a brighter future through innovation and strategic collaboration.

Akwasi Obeng-Adjei is the Director of Group Internal Audit: Investment Management South Africa and Insurance Rest of Africa at Absa Bank South Africa with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry in South Africa and the rest of Africa. He has a well-grounded experience in Advisory, Business Process, Financial Risk, Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Audit Services and Risk Management.

He is an academic with a vested interest in innovation, Futures, investment management and entrepreneurship as a discipline. He has presented on this subject matter at several conferences and organisations and has received numerous accolades. He has an extensive experience in the African continent both professionally and academically.

He is a PhD Candidate (Univ of Witwatersrand) and holds an MBA (Univ of Stellenbosch), Master of Commerce (Univ of Witwatersrand), BSc Honours – Management (Univ of Johannesburg), BSc IT & Mathematics qualifications. He is permanently based in Johannesburg

Samuel Senyo Okae is the Chief Information Security Officer at the Bank of Ghana. His career at the Bank spans over a period of 15 years serving in the following capacities as Senior Information Systems Auditor and Bank Examiner, 2021-2022, and 2010 to 2017. In between these periods he was on secondment to the Ghana Deposit Protection Corporation as Head of IT where he was responsible for setting up the IT function of the corporation. In this role, he was responsible for creating and administering disaster plans that will keep the company functional in the event of a crisis. He also worked closely with departmental managers to determine appropriate procedures for a successful setup of the corporation as well as determine the rationale and methods for upgrading the company’s network software programmes.

In his current position as Chief Information Security Officer since March 2022, Dr. Okae is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that the Central Bank and its employees are protected in the Cyber Space. He is also responsible for developing, implementing and enforcing security policies. The protection of critical data, implementation and oversight of the central bank’s cyber security programme are also under his purview.

As a finance and IT professional, he has over 25 years of experience in the industry reflecting strong leadership and organizational competence. Samuel has also over a decade of international work experience in the following capacities – Finance Business Change Analyst, IT Project Manager, Business Support Executive, Finance Administrator and Software Developer in UK and Germany.

In addition to his being a multi-skilled professional, Dr. Okae has varied interests. The author

of Eleventh Hour Worker, a book which focuses on ethics and excellence, he is a motivational

speaker who can engage effectively with all age brackets and also has lectureship engagements at the Ghana Communication Technology University and the Ghana Banking College. Dr. Okae was gazetted as a Lay Reverend Minister of the Victory Bible Church in 2006.

Dr. Samuel Senyo Okae holds a Master of Research and Doctor of Business Administration with speciality in IT Governance and IT Risk Assessment from the Swiss Business School, obtained in 2019 and 2020 respectively. He also earned an MSc in Software Systems Engineering from the Technical University of Aachen (RWTH), Germany in 2003. An old boy of Presbyterian Boys Secondary School, Legon, Samuel obtained his BSc in Computer Science and Statistics from the University of Ghana in 2000.

Dr Okae also holds several professional qualification in the area of cyber and Information Security; These include; Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE), Certified Network Defender Architect (CNDA), Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO), Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) , Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT), Certified Security Analyst (ECSA), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), ISO 27001:2013 Lead Auditor certification, Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Sarbanes Oxley Implementation and Compliance (SOX) and BASEL II Implementation and Compliance. Other areas of interest include Risk Management.

Dr. Samuel Senyo Okae’s interests includes reading, travelling and meeting people. He describes as a man passionate about success with a great sense of humour.

Benjamin K Mensah is a seasoned technical leader with over 25 years of experience in Information Technology (IT), digital transformation, and business strategy. He specialises in AI, blockchain, IoT, data analytics, and cloud computing and helps organisations adopt cutting-edge technologies to drive innovation and efficiency.

As Technical Director at Greatstone International, Benjamin has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic direction, leading new service offerings, and fostering key partnerships with global technology providers. His expertise spans digital transformation strategy, enterprise architecture, and large-scale IT implementations, benefiting major clients such as the Bank of Ireland, London Business School, BNP Paribas, and Civica.

A visionary in AI-driven automation and blockchain integration, Benjamin has successfully led international software development teams, optimising operations and accelerating digital adoption. His ability to negotiate strategic partnerships—including collaborations with VeChain, Aspose, and DevExpress—has strengthened Greatstone’s position as a leader in enterprise solutions.

Benjamin holds a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science & Information Systems from the University of Salford and a Digital Transformation certification from MIT. He is also an Oracle Certified Professional and an active thought leader, regularly publishing insights and representing his company at industry conferences.

With a deep passion for emerging technologies, cloud solutions, and business intelligence, Benjamin continues to drive technology-led innovation, ensuring businesses remain competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Kwame Oppong is the Head of FinTech and Innovation at Bank of Ghana. His background spans Technology, Digital Financial Services (DFS) operations, policy development, and regulation.

He has consulted for several governments, public sector institutions, international development organizations and private corporations globally.

Prior to joining the Bank, Kwame worked with CGAP, Millicom, Hewlett Packard (now HP EB) and other organizations in the banking, technology, housing finance and health insurance industries. He is a passionate advocate for financial inclusion, innovation, and the development of digital economies.

Darlington Akogo is a highly influential global leader in Artificial Intelligence, serving as the Founder and CEO of minoHealth AI Labs, karaAgro AI, Runmila AI Institute, and Gudra AI Studio.

He has been recognized as one of the Global Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent in Healthcare and chairs the Topic Group on AI for Radiology under the United Nations World Health Organization and International Telecommunications Union and Global Initiative on Artificial Intelligence for Health.

In addition, Akogo served as the Chair for the working group on Artificial Intelligence Economy for the African Union, which created the AU AI Continental Strategy. He also serves as a Global Innovation Adviser to the International Development Innovation Alliance, an alliance between the top 15 international development agencies, including Rockefeller Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Affairs Canada, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), Global Innovation Fund, Grand Challenges Canada, Skoll Foundation, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), UNICEF, and USAID.

Through his teaching, research and service at Ashesi, Dennis seeks to foster AI-enabled entrepreneurship in Africa. Dennis often teaches Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP). His research is focused on NLP. Among other things, Dennis led the creation of the first open-source publicly available speech dataset in native Ghanaian languages – Asante Twi, Fante, Akuapem Twi and Ga. Dennis is working on the development of AI datasets and tools which can be used by enterprising Africans to develop AI solutions which work well for African speakers.

Dennis graduated from Ashesi University in 2012. After a few years working as a Software Engineer in Ghana, he went to the US for graduate studies where he acquired knowledge and skills in the development of machine learning models. He earned his Master’s in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Dennis served as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Minnesota, Duluth and the University of Maryland, College Park before returning to Ashesi to join the Computer Science and Information Systems faculty.

Eugene Allotey is a tech entrepreneur with over 10 years of extensive experience in the IT sector, primarily at Creative Bibini as Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer. In this capacity, Eugene oversees IT project portfolios and manages intricate multi-use development projects.

At Creative Bibini, Eugene spearheads the establishment of cutting-edge IT architecture and the implementation of governance and project management protocols. He is also known for his ability to generate innovative business ideas and solutions, providing strategic direction that aligns with both technological advancement and business growth.

Eugene’s educational background includes a Master’s Degree in Marketing Strategy from the University of Ghana Business School. He is a Development Partner at FOCAS, a real-time customer service feedback software that won “The Africa Youth in Innovation Challenge Award” in 2021 by ATLF and UNWTO.

A well-versed speaker at tech conferences, Eugene frequently shares insights on emerging technologies, AI innovations, and digital transformation, contributing to thought leadership in the industry.

Dr. Ghita Mezzour is the Founder & CEO of DecisiveAI, a company that supports public and private organizations in the strategic adoption of artificial intelligence to achieve concrete and sustainable outcomes. She served as Morocco’s Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform (2021–2024), where she led key initiatives that boosted digital education, attracted global tech companies, and launched the Digital Morocco 2030 Strategy.

Before her ministerial role, she founded Data in Seconds (DASEC), an award-winning startup using AI to analyze alternative data for strategic insights. She was also an Associate Professor at the International University of Rabat, leading AI projects with international partners like USAID and NATO.

Ms. Mezzour holds a PhD in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University (United States) and a master’s in communication systems from EPFL (Switwerland). She received the EPFL Alumni Award (2023) and was named an MIT Rising Star (2015).

Accomplished business professional and Director of New Business Development at Albrina Enterprise, overseeing strategic growth and expansion across West Africa and South Africa.

Holding an MSc. in Business Performance Management and a BSc. in Business Administration, Albert brings a wealth of expertise in driving business excellence, with a proven track record in startup development globally. I have broad experience in a variety of business operation roles ranging from performance management, client relationship management, and new business development. Working directly with c-level executives from Fortune 500 companies, thought leaders, and partners across all geographical regions, I have learned different cultures.

With a global perspective honed through education and work experience from Finland, Denmark, North America and United Kingdom, Albert possesses a unique understanding of diverse markets and cultures, enabling him to navigate complex business landscapes with ease.

As a seasoned expert in business development and growth, Albert is well-positioned to drive Albrina Enterprise’s expansion and success in Africa while fostering strategic partnerships and innovation.

With my unique blend of expertise, education, and technological proficiency, I am confident in my ability to make a meaningful contribution to this event.

Albrina Enterprise is a conglomerate technology and management consulting company that owns cgi Hotel Solutions; the ultimate hospitality management software, and Albrina Property Finder; a premier online platform that connects property owners, potential buyers and renters.

Mr. Clarence Blay is the head of the Payment Systems Department, Bank of Ghana.  A lifelong career central banker since completion of university, he has more than two decades experience in various areas of central banking including banking, payment system policy and strategy, financial inclusion, financial market infrastructure development, assessment of financial market infrastructure, surveillance and examination of payment systems, fraud investigations and market participants dispute resolution, and supervision of digitally delivered financial services.

He was a founding member of the Payment Systems Department and the FinTech and Innovation Office. Prior to assuming responsibility for the Payment System Department, he handled several critical operations in FinTech and Innovation Office including FinTech promotion and innovation, oversight, risk management and supervision, policy formulation and regulatory sandbox.  He was the lead of the technical committee of the Bank of Ghana CBDC (eCedi) project.

Mr. Blay has facilitated training programs and made presentations at conferences in and outside Ghana on payment and settlement systems, electronic banking, digital finance, payments system risks and financial inclusion. He was Bank of Ghana’s representative on the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) payment systems expert group that facilitated payment systems development in Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Guinea. He is a member of the PAPSS Supervisory and Oversight Committee.

Mr. Blay was a chairman of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Global Standards Proportionality Working Group. He was also the sub-group chair for Deposit Protection for Mobile Money. He is currently the chairman for the sub-group responsible for AFI initiative on Financial Inclusion Country Assessment and the chair of the Expert Group of Financial Inclusion Policy(EGFIP) of the Africa Financial Inclusion Policy Initiative(AfPI).

Mr. Blay holds a Master of Finance from the University of London and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Ghana. He is also a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) of the United Kingdom.