Paul Asare Ansah, former Director-General of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) joined GPHA in 1994 as a Senior Public Relations Officer. Until his last appointment, as DG, he was the Corporate Affairs and Marketing Manager of GPHA.
Paul Asare Ansah is a Public Relations and Marketing practitioner with extensive experience. Under his able leadership and guidance, GPHA established itself as a visible and credible brand in the local and international business community. This won GPHA many reputable awards both at home and abroad.
PaulAns as he is affectionately called is a graduate of University of Ghana, from where he obtained a BA (Hons) degree in the Humanities. He also obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Communication Studies from the same University. He later pursued and obtained an Executive Masters in Business Administration from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. He has attended a number of short courses in port management and administration in Japan, Ireland and Israel. He has served on several Committees, including National Trade Facilitation Committee, Chairman of the Technical Committee on Trade, Investment, Transport and Free Movement for Ghana-Burkina Faso Permanent Joint Commission for Co-operation, Chairman of the Technical Committee on Trade, Transport and Free Movement, Tourism and Information Technology: Ghana-Ivory Coast Permanent Joint Commission for Co-operation, Chairman, Transit Shipper Committee of Ghana Shippers’ Authority, West Africa Trade Hub Advocacy Group Leader on Transit Facilitation, and Member, ECOWAS Stakeholder Working Group on Transport Facilitation.
As Director-General, Paul Ansah’s vision was to transform the Ports of Ghana into a world class regional hub and veritable engines for socio-economic development and regional integration. Paul Ansah believes that given the chance and needed support, indigenous African Terminal Operators can grow into becoming global players.
As part of his vision and strides for GPHA, Paul Ansah initiated and led the anti-corruption campaign to enhance integrity and effectiveness in the port system by effectively mobilizing and receiving stakeholder commitment and participation in the cause.
This gave Ghana’s ports a much needed facelift with regards to local and international public awareness on corruption prevention efforts and business sustainability initiatives.
On trade facilitation, he initiated the Port Infrastructure Development Fund and inaugurated a Port Infrastructure Development Fund committee which he hoped will come out with modalities to secure a common fund that will allow Ghana’s Ports to be financially independent to undertake infrastructural projects in its interest.
He advocated strongly for Ghanaian indigenes to be involved in the construction of Port Infrastructure. He therefore walked the talk by signing a contract with IBISTEK, a Ghanaian company to develop a multi-purpose terminal costing some $370 million at the Takoradi Harbour.
On export facilitation, he mobilized stakeholders to think of how to further the President’s drive to enhance exports for the nation’s growth by initiating a maiden meeting for stakeholders and followed up with a pending strategic retreat to draw a collaborative plan to facilitate exports. He has given the authority’s full commitment to sustain the drive and activities to grow exports.
His commitment to national drives and initiatives were not in question as Paul Ansah gave full and timely commitment to the paperless process which commenced on September 1, 2017.
He was innovative in the face of resource challenges as he mobilized stakeholders to think of how to repair the damaged new Takoradi road and this has been done successfully.
In June, 2017, the Paul Asare Ansah led administration mounted an intense crackdown on individuals and private companies, who, without approval from the Port Authority were building illegal ports along the shores of Ghana. Paul Asare Ansah ordered a shutdown of all such facilities and currently awaiting legal actions. Since these had serious implications for state safety.
Paul Ansah’s commitment to duty and desire to ensure that the Authority and Ghana as a whole succeeds endeared him to win several awards.
In 2017, the Institute of Public Relations Ghana, I.P.R awarded him the PR Personality of the year and GPHA won PR Organization of the year – Manufacturing & Industry Institute of Public Relations Ghana.
At the maiden Ghana Maritime and Shipping Awards, Paul Ansah was adjudged the Maritime Personality of the year, at 8th Edition of the Ghana Entrepreneurs and Corporate Executive Awards, he was adjudged Best Maritime and Ports Industry CEO of the Year and he was also awarded the Crystal Achievement Award by the United Clergy International Association Worldwide (UCIA) at the British Council.