Raymond Ategbi Okrofu
Accra
Summary
Professional consultant with deep expertise and readiness for leadership roles. Proven ability to drive impactful results through strategic planning, data analysis, and effective problem-solving. Strong focus on team collaboration and adaptability in dynamic environments. Known for reliable execution and strategic insight in management consulting.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Managing Consultant
The Environment Sustainability Nexus
01.2024 - Current
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and drive business growth.
- Developed and implemented tailored consulting solutions for client-specific challenges.
- Facilitated stakeholder workshops to identify opportunities for process improvement and innovation.
- Managed cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects on time and within budget parameters.
- Mentored junior consultants, enhancing team capabilities and project delivery effectiveness.
- Led cross-functional teams to develop and implement sustainable environmental strategies.
- Conducted comprehensive assessments of client sustainability practices, identifying areas for improvement.
- Facilitated stakeholder engagement sessions to align sustainability initiatives with organizational goals.
- Advised clients on regulatory compliance and best practices in environmental management systems.
- Analyzed market trends and emerging technologies to inform strategic decision-making processes.
- Streamlined project management processes, resulting in increased efficiency and timely delivery of projects.
Technical Advisor - Renewable Energy
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
06.2019 - 01.2024
- Managing the area of market development and regulation for Renewable energy (RE) - in particular distributed generation - and Energy Efficiency (EE) in Ghana;
- Provision of professional advisory services to and cooperating with the relevant sector stakeholders, in particular Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the Energy Commission, the Ministry of Energy, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, the public utilities and the private sector RE and EE associations and companies;
- Championing innovation and knowledge management;
- Provision of organizational support to Association of Ghana Industries and Energy Commission regarding the establishment of a RE/EE Information/Service Hub which serves as ‘honest broker’ between RE/EE service providers and potential clients;
- Facilitated stakeholder engagement sessions to gather insights and drive collaboration.
- Developed training materials to improve capacity building within local partners.
- Led cross-functional teams in identifying process improvements for operational efficiency.
- Analyzed data trends to inform decision-making and optimize resource allocation.
- Offered insight into standard methodologies and common obstacles faced by competing companies, based on experiences with past clients and third-party research.
- Ensures knowledge transfer of project information, in particular ensuring transfer of knowledge from work undertaken by consultants to the partner institutions
- Draws up reports and presentation of documents
- Assists with research activities and studies on renewable and energy efficiency market development and regulations in Ghana
- Assists with general project planning and develops project concepts including preparation, organization and moderation of planning exercises and their implementation, management, monitoring, quality management, evaluation, communication, and documentation
- Conducted assessments of project impact, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
Country Manager
Safi Sana Ghana Limited
05.2012 - 06.2019
- Responsible for the commercial roll out of the Safi Sana concept in Ghana, focusing on Sanitation, Renewable Energy and Agriculture.
- Led the Safi Sana Ghana team through a start-up and pilot phases to a full commercial scale.
- Led a team to negotiate and sign a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the ECG. – First grid-connected waste to power project in Ghana
- Work with multiple stakeholders including regulatory institutions, Beneficiaries, Investors etc.
- Development, execution and monitoring of annual plans, policy, and budget in collaboration with Safi Sana Holding (The Netherlands).
- Led cross-functional teams to enhance operational efficiency and drive strategic initiatives across regional markets.
- Developed and implemented business strategies aligned with organizational goals, fostering sustainable growth in Ghana's market.
- Managed relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring alignment on project objectives and resource allocation for optimal performance.
- Oversaw financial planning and analysis, facilitating data-driven decision-making to improve profitability and cost management.
- Designed training programs for staff development, enhancing team capabilities and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
- Conducted market analysis to identify emerging trends, refining product offerings to meet customer needs effectively.
- Spearheaded negotiations with suppliers to optimize procurement processes, reducing costs while maintaining quality standards.
- Established performance metrics to monitor progress toward strategic goals, implementing corrective actions as necessary for success.
- Recruited, trained, and coached 35 member team to support company growth.
- Gathered information on competitor activities and market trends to enhance strategic decision-making.
Country coordinator
Co2balance – UK
05.2011 - 05.2012
- Responsible for delivering projects that are eligible for funding under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the CDM Gold Standard carbon credit issuing authorities. Coordination of employees and contractors for projects that deliver social, environmental economic benefits to local people across various locations in Ghana.
- As a country coordinator, my job purpose included but not limited to the following:
- Ensuring effective day-to-day support to all field operations in the development of the country programs
- Ensured that projects and programs remain within the remit of their initial design, approved plans and budgets and coordinated the preparation of amendments when necessary to achieve project objectives.
- Supported staff in timely implementation and achievement of the relevant milestones and timely and accurate reporting.
- Coordinated project implementation across multiple regions to enhance carbon offset initiatives.
- Developed partnerships with local stakeholders to facilitate community engagement and project success.
- Managed compliance with environmental regulations and reporting requirements for carbon credit projects.
Project Coordinator
General Agricultural Workers Union of Ghana Trades Union Congress
05.2006 - 02.2009
- Coordinated an ILO supported project to withdraw over three thousand (3000) child Labourers in the Tono Irrigation area (Kesena Nankana District in the Upper East Region). These children were provided with school items and enrolled in schools. There were capacity building activities for the parents to make sure that the children remain in school. The traditional rulers and the local authorities were also involved and they set up bye laws and a task force to stem the incidence of child labour in the district.
- Coordinated a similar project supported by the Danish and Norwegian Trade Unions in the Kpando Torkor area. Over eight hundred (800) children were withdrawn and sent back to school. About 50 opted to learn trade. Similar bye-laws were enacted by the Kpando district assembly and the fishermen association in the area.
- Monitored project progress, identifying risks and implementing mitigation strategies.
Team Leader
Sierra Leone Labour congress
05.2008 - 05.2008
- Developed a training manual for informal economy organizations for the Sierra Leone Labour congress
- Conducted needs assessment survey and designed strategic intervention modules leading the successful organization of the informal economy workers in Sierra Leone into the mainstream Trade union.
Project coordinator
General Agricultural Workers Union of Ghana Trades Union Congress
12.2007 - 12.2007
- Led a team to develop a training manual for training small holder farmers in informal economy
- Designed a scheme leading to the successful organization of over thirty forest fringe communities into our union.
- I facilitated the introduction and promotion of non-farm economic activities in thirty communities across the country
Project coordinator
General Agricultural Workers Union of Ghana Trades Union Congress
08.2007 - 12.2007
- Facilitated the establishment of a micro credit scheme for over one thousand members in the informal economy across the entire country
- Facilitated a process of skills gap analysis leading to the develop appropriate intervention areas for informal economy workers.
- Development of framework strategies for integrated development
Team Member
Timber and Woodworkers Union of Ghana TUC
07.2006 - 07.2006
- Designed an afforestation Project for the Timber and Wood Workers Union (2006)
- Supervised the implementation of an afforestation programme in forest fringe communities.
Coordinating Officer
General Agricultural Workers’ Union of Ghana TUC
03.2004 - 07.2006
- Coordinated a project of informal economy organization into the mainstream trade union in Ghana.
- Implemented development projects for the members in the informal economy
- Conducted needs assessments and surveys the results of which were the focus of our development projects for the members.
- Coordinated several projects leading the introduction of income generating activities for the members of the trade union
- Organized campaigns in support of pro poor policies among rural workers
Education
Master of Arts - Natural Resources Law
University of Ghana – Legon
Accra06-2026
Master of Science - Environmental Science
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science And Technology
Kumasi, Ghana01.2014
Master of Arts - Organisation Development
University of Cape Coast, Institute of Development Studies
Cape Coast, Ghana01.2009
Post Graduate Diploma - Organization Development
University of Cape Coast
Cape Coast, Ghana01.2008
Certificate - Project Management And Development
MDF Training And Consultancy, Netherlands
Amsterdam, Netherlands 08.2006
Bachelor of Science - Agricultural Science
University of Cape Coast
Cape Coast, Ghana01.2002
High School Diploma -
Bishop Herman College: Agricultural Science
Kpando, Ghana01.1995
Skills
- Computer proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet proficiency) and MS Project
- Ethical leadership
- Client management
- Adaptability and resilience
- Design thinking
- Business analysis
- Organizational development
- Data analytics
- Human resources management
- Team collaboration
- Team leadership & development
- Work Planning and Prioritization
Accomplishments
- Led Safi Sana to develop the first Grid Connected biogas plant in West Africa.
- Signed the first Power Purchase Agreement for a waste to power project in Ghana
Affiliations
- Full Member - Institute for Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA)
- Director and Board Secretary – Safi Sana Ghana Limited
- Member BIOGAS Association of Ghana (BAG)
- Member of steering committee, Pan African NGOs Consortium in Agriculture (PANGOC)
- Member of Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
- Management member: Centre for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD)
- Member – Agricultural Sovereignty Ghana (ASG)
- Member – Renewable Energy Association of Ghana (REAG)
Language skills
Highly proficient in English (reading, Writing and Speaking). Equally proficient in some major Ghanaian languages which are also spoken in some Western African countries. I have a working knowledge (basic level) of French.
Language: English, Reading: 1, Speaking: 1, Writing: 1
Language: French, Reading: 4, Speaking: 3, Writing: 4
Language: Twi, Reading: 3, Speaking: 1, Writing: 2
Language: Ga, Reading: 4, Speaking: 2, Writing: 3
Language: Ewe, Reading: 1, Speaking: 1, Writing: 1
Timeline
Managing Consultant
The Environment Sustainability Nexus
01.2024 - Current
Technical Advisor - Renewable Energy
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
06.2019 - 01.2024
Country Manager
Safi Sana Ghana Limited
05.2012 - 06.2019
Country coordinator
Co2balance – UK
05.2011 - 05.2012
Team Leader
Sierra Leone Labour congress
05.2008 - 05.2008
Project coordinator
General Agricultural Workers Union of Ghana Trades Union Congress
12.2007 - 12.2007
Project coordinator
General Agricultural Workers Union of Ghana Trades Union Congress
08.2007 - 12.2007
Team Member
Timber and Woodworkers Union of Ghana TUC
07.2006 - 07.2006
Project Coordinator
General Agricultural Workers Union of Ghana Trades Union Congress
05.2006 - 02.2009
Coordinating Officer
General Agricultural Workers’ Union of Ghana TUC
03.2004 - 07.2006
Master of Arts - Natural Resources Law
University of Ghana – Legon
Master of Science - Environmental Science
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science And Technology
Master of Arts - Organisation Development
University of Cape Coast, Institute of Development Studies
Post Graduate Diploma - Organization Development
University of Cape Coast
Certificate - Project Management And Development
MDF Training And Consultancy, Netherlands
Bachelor of Science - Agricultural Science
University of Cape Coast
High School Diploma -
Bishop Herman College: Agricultural Science
Specific experience in the region
- I have had the chance to short term assignments in the following countries: Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Senegal, Kenya and Uganda
- Country: Ghana, Date from - Date to: 2002 – present
- Country: Burkina Faso, Date from - Date to: Since 2017 – present (Multiple visits)
- Country: Sierra Leone, Date from - Date to: Between 2008-2015 (Multiple times )
- Country: Senegal, Date from - Date to: Between 2008-2015 (Multiple times )
- Country: Nigeria, Date from - Date to: Between 2008-2015 (Multiple times )
- Country: Zambia, Date from - Date to: August 2018
- Country: Senegal, Date from - Date to: November 2017
- Country: Kenya, Date from - Date to: Between 2011-2014 (Multiple times )
- Country: Netherlands, Date from - Date to: Short working visits between 2011-2019
Key qualifications
- 15 years’ Experience in managing projects in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
- Experience in coordination of projects especially in rural certain. Ability to handle multiple assignments with little or no supervision.
- 12 years of work experience in Rural Development and Policy advocacy.
- Trained expert in Organization Development
- Experienced in managing start up organisations.
- Trained expert in Environment and Agricultural development.
- Coordinated several projects including waste recycling into biogas for energy and organic fertilizer, Cook stove projects in many locations across Ghana, Advancing the organization of self-employed rural workers within trade unions, Food security and policy advocacy campaign, Rural afforestation project, Developed a training manual for the informal economy members
- Have the experience of implementing an African Development Bank (AfDB) Sponsored project between 2014 – 2017
- Experience in recruiting short- and long-term expertise for required assignments.
- Management and reporting of financial performance against plans and approved budgets.
Other trainings
- MDF Training and consultancy- Netherlands April 2009
- Management Course for Development Practitioners (Projects and programs Management and Administration-PPMA)
- University Of Kassel – Germany, September 2006 Globalization – shaping global economy
- Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology) Aug.2005 sustainable Livelihoods
Publications
- April 2021- https://open.spotify.com/episode/4hlEOiCb1zwqlba3HPHCFt?si=bb5d54ba326a4305&nd=1
- June 2017- Poo Power in Ghana’s Biggest Slum - https://ruaf.org/ua-magazine-no-32-urban-food-waste-energy-nexus-and-private-sector
- October 2009 - building the Capacity of the Informal Economy Workers, (A training manual for trade unions)
- December 2008 Aid, Employment and Poverty Reduction in Ghana (Report of a case study of the food and poultry sectors)
References
- Raymond, Ahiadorme, raymond.ahiadorme@giz.de, +233 24 390 0386, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
- Aart, Van Den Beukel, aart@safisana.org, +31 (0)6 2608655, Safi Sana Ghana Limited
- Wonder Kofi, Agbasah, wonderagbasah@gmail.com, +233243387310, The Environment Sustainability Nexus