Stephen Adei (born December 14, 1948) is a Ghanaian educationist, writer, economist and motivational speaker. He is the former rector of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).[2][3][4] Adei is currently a lecturer in the Business Administration Department at Ashesi University in Ghana.[5] Stephen Adei and his wife, Georgina Adei founded Ghana Christian International High School, located on Afienya-Dodowa Road; Shai Osudoku District, Greater Accra Region. The school is both a junior and senior High school.[6]
Early life and education
Adei was born in the village of Hwiremoase, also spelt Hwiremuasi in Adansi, Ashanti, Ghana to Kwaku Adei and Abena Pomaa (aka Bedito). Adei attended primary school in the village's Methodist Primary school and nearby United Middle School in Brofuyedru. Adei is the fourth child of his mother's seven surviving all male children.[1] Adei's father was a polygamist. From basic school, Adei went in 1964 to do 4-year Teacher's Certificate; a course at Sefwi Wiawso Training College. Adei studied privately to gain London University Ordinary and Advanced Level General Certificates in Education (High School equivalent qualifications) in three and a half years.[1] Adei proceeded to the University of Ghana in October 1968 where he read Economics, Sociology and Geography obtaining honours in all three first-year subjects before going on to do a BSc Honours programme in Economics. Adei then went to Strathclyde for his Masters in Development Economics.He also holds a PhD in International Economics at the University of Sydney[1]
Personal life
Stephen Adei is married to Georgina Adei with four children.[7]
Work
Stephen Adei worked as the Assistant Economic Officer at the Ministry of Finance, Ghana in 1971. From February to September 1973, he was a Junior African Fellow at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.[8] From 1973 to 1977, he was the Projects Evaluation Officer at Capital Investments Board, Ghana.[8] He became a part-time Marketing Consultant at Aluminum Industries Commission of Ghana in 1974.
From 1977 to 1980, Adei was a tutor in Macro and Micro-Economics at the University of Sydney while he was pursuing a Ph.D.[8] He was on a study leave from Ghana Investment Centre during this period.[8]
From 1981 to 1986, Adei taught International Trade and Finance at the University of Ghana.
From 1981 to 1986, Adei was the Deputy Director and Head of Research at the Ghana Investment Centre, Ghana.[8]
From April 1989 to September 1990, Adei moved into the position of Senior Economist for UNDP/Regional Bureau for Africa|RBA in New York[8] His career in the United Nations(UN) had begun.
In 1990 to September 1992, he became the Chief of the Programme Management Unit, Regional Bureau for Africa of United Nations Development Programme in New York.[8]
In October 1992, he moved to become the Special Assistant to the Director, Regional Bureau for Africa, United Nations Development Programme till February 1994.[8] He served as Chef de Cabinet of two of the Distinguished Heads of Africa Bureau including H.E. Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia during this time.[8]
In March 1994 to May 1995, he assumed the position of Chief of Office of the Director and Deputy Chief at Regional Bureau for Africa, UNDP/RBA, New York.
From September 1994 to January 1995, Adei continued his career in the UN with assuming the position of Officer-in-Charge, UNDP in South Africa, where he headed the UN system during South Africa's pivotal transition from Apartheid system to a modern democracy.[8]
In May 1995 to December 1999, he became the Resident Representative for the UNDP in Windhoek, Namibia.[9]
From January 2000 to December 2008, Adei became the Rector and Director-General of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), and Professor in Leadership.[8] During his leadership reign, he transformed GIMPA from a disregarded Public College to a self-financing centre of distinction in the training of students in Leadership, Business Management, Public Administration and ICT. After his 8-year leadership at GIMPA, Stephen Adei retired from civil service. He then took up the position of Professor of Economics and Leadership at the Pentecost University College, Accra.[8] There, he also acted as Strategic Advisor to the Rector.[8]
In January 2013, Adei joined Ashesi University College as an Adjunct Professor of Leadership and is currently the Dean of Arts and Sciences.[8] In August 2014, Stephen Adei became and is currently the Executive Chairman of Ghana Christian International High School at Sota, Dodowa, Ghana.[8]
