The Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Eva Esselba Mends, has been honoured with the Top Woman in Finance Award alongside other chief directors from Tanzania, Gambia, Uganda, and Nigeria at the fifth CFO and Public Finance Awards, held in Accra.
The MoF’s Chief Director was celebrated as the Public Finance Woman of the Year for her stealer leadership role at the finance ministry over the past two decades as a technocrat.
Her recognition reflects a growing emphasis on innovation, transparency, and impact in public and corporate finance across Africa.
The Accountant General of the United Republic of Tanzania, Leonard Mkude, was honoured with the distinguished Public Sector Finance Leader of the Year Award. John Awuah, CEO of the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB), received the Outstanding Leadership in Banking Award.
The fifth Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Awards also honoured other financial leaders across the continent including Adefemi Ogundele, CFO at First Pension Custodian in Nigeria; Stevens Mwanje, CFO of Uganda’s National Social Security Fund; Ashish Khemka, Director of Finance and Operations at Lagos Free Zone; Tamsir Sallah, Director of Finance at the Gambia Ports Authority; Henry Agyeman Boateng, Director of Finance at GIFEC; and Albert Larweh Asante, CFO and Executive Director at Standard Chartered Bank Ghana.
The CFO & Public Finance Conference is designed to celebrate excellence in financial leadership and institutional impact, bringing together distinguished organisations and professionals from across the region.
It was an evening dedicated to recognising those who have made significant contributions to advancing financial governance and driving positive change within the public and private sectors.
It recognised a diverse range of professionals across all industries and sectors, both private and public—CFOs, finance directors, accountant generals, treasury heads, audit and compliance experts, tax officials, and risk management professionals, among others.
Orginisational Honours
Standard Chartered Bank (StanChart), the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), and Ghana Water Limited (GWL) were among the standout institutions from across the continent honoured at the 2025 CFO and Public Finance Awards.
GEPA was named Export Trade Facilitator Provider of the Year, recognizing its continued efforts in supporting Ghanaian exporters and strengthening the country’s global trade competitiveness.
Ghana Water Limited (GWL) emerged as a standout public utility at the 5th CFO & Public Finance Awards, securing two notable awards that reflect its financial strength and operational transparency.
StanChart emerged as one of the top winners, clinching three major honours that reaffirm its commitment to impactful banking and sustainable finance.
The bank was named Best Bank Financing Community Impact Initiatives in recognition of its efforts to drive inclusive finance and support underserved communities through innovative financial solutions.
Additionally, StanChart was awarded Best Bank in Investment and Wealth Management, a testament to its excellence in delivering trusted investment services and wealth creation tools for clients across the continent. Its CFO and Executive Director, Albert Larweh Asante, was recognized among the Top 50 CFOs of the Year.
The two-day event, themed “Future Trends: The Next Wave of Sustainable Finance Innovation,” was organized by InstinctWave, an ISO-certified B2B event and media and digital consultancy firm with a track record in hosting premium events across Africa.
