A fully qualified Telecommunications Engineer/Consultant with 26 years post college experience. The maiden period of this career embraced basic communication techniques and graduated to telecommunications engineering. The past 10 years have been spent providing technical and managerial project management and support to all elements of the now AngloGold Ashanti Limited and previously Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited. Formerly with Deloitte and Touché as a Principal Consultant responsible for Telecommunications projects.
He later joined Ashanti Goldfields Co Ltd as Network & Communications Manager and then became the Information Systems Manager Obuasi/Ayanfuri and finally became the Corporate Telecommunications Manager Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited. He was thereafter promoted as Group Manager Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited responsible for the Group IT Infrastructure and Telecommunications. He was later on promoted as General Manager for Information Technology, AngloGold Ashanti Limited West Africa Region. Before opting out of AngloGold Ashanti Limited December 2004 he acted as Managing Director, Information Technology for the Group.
A broad base of IT expertise has been developed within the AngloGold Ashanti Limited focusing on Project Management, installation and commissioning of complete communications systems. His largest project for the company was 1.7 Million US Dollar ICT Intra Telecommunication Network covering Ghana Administration and Operating Mines in Gold House and its Satellite Offices, Obuasi, Bibiani, Iduapriem all in Ghana, South Africa, Bindura in Zimbabwe, Siguiri in Guinea and Geita in Tanzania. He promoted the highest standards of managing finance, human relations, interpersonal skills, morale and motivation amongst team members.
Kwasi has skills in various areas in telecommunications and he has managed the Ashanti’s Corporate VSAT Data/Voice network. He designed the corporate voice numbering scheme for the main switchboard connecting all the Ashanti remote sites. An extremely resourceful individual trained with extensive electrical and electronics experience that is capable of adapting to any work environment quickly and efficiently.
Totally reliable and fully able to work either as a team member or alone to consistently high standards in order to produce excellent results. Proven experience within the telecommunications, automobile security, infrastructural auditing in ICT and data communication environment both in Ghana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and other African countries to include:
Project Management, Current datacomms and networking technology, ATM and Frame Relay, Fiber Optic techniques, Microwave and Satellite communications systems, Multiplexed and Encrypted Datacomms systems, Automatic message switching, Paging systems, Encrypted packet switched Digital Voice / Data over various bearer circuits.
As the Head of the Information Technology Department of AngloGold Ashanti (West Africa) Ghana I had the overall responsibility of the Information Technology Department within the West Africa Region. The responsibility covered managing the Information Technology and Telecommunications of five operating gold mines in two African countries namely, Ghana and Guinea and ensuring that all information systems are fully functional and operational to support the business. I had to develop a strategy for the West Africa Region and align with the Corporate Strategy of the team.
As the Head of Information Technology Department my responsibility extended to developing the West Africa Regional IT budget and ensuring that IT costs are well managed. In addition I developed job descriptions and reviewed the existing organisational chart for the West Africa Region.
I was involved in the preparation the presentation for the Obuasi Mine wide area communications projects by providing technical and budget advice to the Obuasi Executive Management on the entire ICT infrastructure within the mine.
Consequently, I provided constant and consistent information of technological trends and reported any developments within the Department to Executive Management for decision-making. Furthermore it was my responsibility to manage the relationship between the West Africa Region and the Corporate Office in Johannesburg through the GITAG forums.
I liaised with the Managing Directors of the operating mines to evaluate all IT projects and the performance of the IT departments/sections. In addition I initiated and secured appropriate policies and procedures for Information Technology Department within the West Africa Region.
In addition to the foregoing I planned and developed effective training and career development programmes in conjunction with the Human Resources Department for the Information Technology staff of the Department (West Africa). I ensured that the appropriate strategy was developed to maximize effectiveness and efficiency within the Information Technology Department and to ensure that the company was SOX compliant.
Kwasi holds MBA from Henley Management College UK, Post Graduate Diploma in Administration, Henley Management College, Post Graduate Diploma in Satellite Communication from Istituto Culturale D’Italia, San Benedetto de Tronto, Italy, BTech Electrical and Electronics Engineering ICI, USA, Diploma Electronics, Brunel Technical College, Bristol UK and Diploma Data Communication IPCD USA Presently Kwasi is the Founder and CEO/Managing Director of Kessconsult, ICT and Telecommunications consultancy services and currently is the representative of the Equity Power Limited a Financial Services Provider based in UK.