The Ghanaian Minaret

Accra: Economic and finance experts from industry, academia, and civil society will converge at the 2024 edition of the Islamic Finance International Conference (IFIC) on Saturday, October 5, 2024 in Accra.

Stakeholders, including government representatives, will be sharing ideas and perspectives on the role of non-interest finance to promote financial inclusion and the rebound of the Ghanaian economy.

The event organised by the Islamic Finance Research Institute of Ghana is being held on the theme “Should economies take advantage of non-interest banking?”.

Since 2020, the annual event has pooled expertise from Ghana and abroad to share perspectives and shape opinions on the importance of non-interest banking and finance for the wider socio-economic good of Ghana and the global economy.

Speakers at the event include:

Dr. Johnson Asiama

An accomplished individual in the field of finance and economics with wealth of experience in the banking sector in Ghana.

He has extensive work experience at the Bank of Ghana and has held various leadership positions prior to assuming the role of Deputy Governor, Bank of Ghana, between April 2016 and January 2018.

Dr. Asiama is known for his expertise in monetary policy, financial stability, and economic research. He is dedicated to fostering a stable and robust financial system in Ghana, as well as promoting sustainable economic growth.

Dr. Asiama holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Southampton, UK, and continues to be a driving force in shaping monetary policy and financial regulations in Ghana.

Yusif Geoffrey

He is a distinguished Chartered Accountant, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Sociology, complemented by a Master of Science in Development Finance.

His expertise extends beyond conventional finance, as he is also a Certified Islamic Finance Executive (CIFE) from Dubai.

He also has 15 years of experience working with various public sector institutions in capacities ranging from expenditure, revenue, and Treasury management financial reporting and has played a vital role in developing and implementing the Ghana Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS).

Yusif’s passion for Islamic finance is not just a title but a commitment he actively upholds in Ghana. He has memberships in esteemed organisations like the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the UK and the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICA) in Ghana.

He possesses a working knowledge of financial statement analysis, corporate governance, and data analysis.

Prof. John Gartchie Gatsi

He joined the University of Cape Coast in 2007 as a lecturer in the then Department of Accounting and Finance.

He became the first Head of Department of the newly created Department of Finance from August 2016 to July 2019. Prof. John Gartchie Gatsi is the Dean of the School of Business.

Prof. Gatsi believes in intellectual diversity and is able to apply his expertise in diverse disciplines such as financial and economic management, governance, financial industry regulation, and oil and gas.

Prof. Gatsi has expertise in finance, financial economics, Islamic finance, regulatory management, oil and gas management, and law.

He has published several articles in internationally reputable peer-reviewed journals. He is the current chair of the panel that evaluates submissions by members of the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists with sponsorship from the World Bank from 2018.

Abdul Nashiru Issahaku

Dr. Abdul-Nashiru Issahaku is an International Development Economist with several years of experience in economic policy management and development.

He is a former governor of the Central Bank of Ghana and has previously worked with other reputable international and local institutions, including the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and the National Development Planning Commission of Ghana.

Prior to his appointment to the Bank of Ghana, he had also served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Development and Agriculture Investment Fund. Dr. Issahaku has a doctorate in international affairs and development.

Dr. Mustapha Abdul Hamid

Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid is currently the Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). He was appointed Chief Executive on the 1st of July 2021.

In the first term of the Akufo-Addo government, he served first as Minister for Information from February 2017 to August 2018. From August 2018 till January 2021, he was Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development.

Dr. Abdul-Hamid is also an academic and is currently a senior lecturer on leave from the Department of Religion and Human Values at the University of Cape Coast. He has several academic publications to his credit. Dr. Abdul-Hamid is married with eight children.

Prof. Affandi Mahfudz

Prof. Ahmed Affandi Mahfudz, CPIF, is currently Head of Shariah Advisory, PT Urun Bangun Negeri, and Postgraduate Lecturer, University of Darussalam, Gontor, Indonesia.

Prof. Affandi has vast experience with more than 13 years in Islamic finance, serving the academic and industrial structuring of Islamic finance, including business advisory outside Indonesia.

Strong technical knowledge in tools of analysis, fluent in English and Arabic, possesses some professional certificates in Islamic finance, was appointed as a board advisor in some shariah entities, presented papers on Islamic finance in international conferences, and published papers in high-impact journals and books.

Mr. Musah Ismaila

Mr. Musah Ismaila is an accomplished finance professional with a strong academic foundation and extensive experience in the banking and finance industry. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Banking and Finance from the Islamic University College of Ghana and a Master’s Degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of Professional Studies, Accra.

With nearly a decade of experience, Mr. Musah has made significant contributions across various sectors, including finance, banking, and auditing. His expertise extends to areas such as Islamic finance, auditing, corporate governance, corporate finance, and Islamic banking. His professional work is complemented by his thought leadership in the field, having published numerous articles in respected international journals.

Mr. Musah currently serves as the Director of Audit & Governance at the Islamic Finance Research Institute of Ghana (IFRIG), where he continues to drive excellence in the areas of financial governance and Islamic finance.

Dr. Shaibu Ali

Dr. Shaibu Ali is presently the Director General of IFRIG and the Executive Director of Corporate Beyond Borders Company Limited. He was the former Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Zakat and Sadaqa Trust Fund of Ghana (a charity organisation) and a part-time lecturer with some universities since 2020.

He is a well-motivated academic professional with an intense passion for seeking and sharing knowledge through cutting-edge research and teaching. He is a renowned scholar with his outstanding contributions in corporate social responsibility, corporate governance, international banking and finance, public finance, Islamic commerce, Islamic banking & finance, and management.

He holds a PhD in Management Science and Engineering (Specialised in Finance and Economics) from Jiangsu University in China, an MBA (Business Administration) from the University of Education, Winneba, and a BBA in Islamic University College, Ghana. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Islamic Finance in Malaysia.

Dr. Shaibu has several publications in reputed international journals, particularly in the fields of corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, banking & finance, Islamic banking, and economic sustainability.

Mallam Attahiru Maccido

Attahiru Maccido is a lead consultant on Islamic finance and member of the Board of Trustees of the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE) in Abuja.

He has been an annual guest for the last four editions of IFIC and has always brought big insights and perspectives to the conference, especially sharing the Nigerian experience in the area of non-interest banking.

He is MD/CEO of SEC-Licensed Islamic Fund Management Firm, One17 Capital Ltd. He is a director of Buraq Capital Ltd., a financial advisory firm that is involved in advising the Federal Government of Nigeria on Sukuk issuances of 2017, 2018, and 2020.

Attahiru has firm roots in structuring government bonds and is credited for having structured an Ijara Sukuk for Osun State Government, the first public Sukuk issued in Nigeria, which received the Africa Deal of the Year Award at the Islamic Finance News (IFN) Awards, 2013 in Dubai.

He is also a member of the Global Advisory Board of MIT Global, UAE, and First Global Academy, Sri Lanka, and a Shari’ah adviser to the SEC-registered FBN Quest Halal Fund and United Capital Sukuk Fund.

Mr. Maccido is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (ICEN), a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership, Delaware, USA, a Fellow of the Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals of Nigeria (IIFP), and a member of the IFRIG board.

About IFRIG

IFRIG is, first and foremost, a research institution focused on the Islamic banking and finance ecosystem in the country and West African subregion.

“Our efforts currently pivoted in the area of research, advocacy, and capacity building have the medium- to long-term aspirations of leveraging on research to usher Ghana into an incremental adaptation of Islamic finance—banking and insurance,” a post on their website read.