Dr. Kojo J. Assan is currently the Director of the NEPAD Bureau and has served in this capacity since September, 2004.

Dr. Assan's responsibility includes provision of technical support to the Minister on NEPAD affairs. He directs sensitization, education and popularization of NEPAD among the populace with a view to create ownership, participation and active involvement of the people of Ghana. He also coordinates and directs NEPAD projects and programmes in the country. At the continental level, Dr. Assan has represented Ghana on the NEPAD Steering Committee and the African Partnership Forum since.

Dr. Assan has a rich experience in strategic management, operational and technical analysis. He has been in the banking industry for a total of 15 years, of which the recent 13 years were in various managerial and analytical positions at Bank One Corporation, Chicago USA. Before Bank One merged with JP Morgan Chase, it was the 5th largest bank in the United States of America with 270 billion dollars in assets.

Dr. Assan obtained his first degree in Agricultural Economics at the University of Ghana in 1977. He worked as a Research Assistant at The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research at Legon and then as a Project Officer at the Agricultural Development Bank in Accra, Ghana between 1978 - 1979. Dr. Assan obtained his MSc. and Ph D degrees at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio 1989. His area of interest includes Development, International Trade, Money and Banking, Project Analysis and Performance Management. Dr. Assan post-doctoral studies have been in banking, credit and finance at The Bank One University, Polaris-Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Assan is married with 3 children and enjoys Tennis, Soccer, American Football and Gardening.

1. Popularize, create awareness and ownership among the public and the Civil Society of the NEPAD and APRM Initiatives

u Regularly sensitizing Parliament, the Diplomatic Community, MDAs, MMDCEs, Private Sector, Civil Society, Ghana TUC and all other Professional Bodies or interested stakeholders on NEPAD and the APRM concepts.u Organising training of trainers or capacity building seminars on NEPAD and APRM for teachers, facilitators and other interested bodies.

u Providing technical or resource person services to the public on NEPAD and APRM dissemination.

2. Facilitate and Coordinate Implementation of the APRM and other NEPAD programmes and projects in-country

u Liaising with other MDAs on the implementation of APRM and other NEPAD programmes and projects, eg. The NEPAD e-Schools Project and the Ghana-NEPAD School Feeding Programme.

u Constituting and facilitating Inter-Ministerial Committees and Inter- Ministerial Technical Committees for the implementation of NEPAD programmes and projects in Ghana.

u Coordinating Government's role in APRM Implementation such as the production of Government Response or Comments to APRM findings, organising review visits by APR Panel Members etc.

u Collating MDAs response to APRM reviews such as reviewing and costing APRM Programme of Action for implementation.

u Sensitizing MDAs on their APRM obligations such as implementing relevant action plans and activities under the Ghana APRM programme of Action.

3. Conduct Monitoring and Evaluation of APRM Implementation

u Liaising with National APRM Governing Council to Conduct periodic M&E on APRM implementation by MDAs

u Maintaining extensive database and information on the four areas of focus of the APRM as well as the political and eco- nomic development in Ghana.

4. Ensure integration of NEPAD policies and priorities into National Development Planning processes.

u Liaising with NPDC and other MDAs through the Cross-Sectoral Planning Group sessions to ensure integration of NEPAD Policies and programmes into the GPRS processes.

u Participating in the Donor-Government Consultative Group (CG) process to ensure that Ghana's NEPAD and APRM obliga- tions are prioritized for funding.

5. Participate in SUB-REGIONAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL Meetings and Conferences on NEPAD and the APRM

u Participating and processing reports of NEPAD seminars or meet ings such as the Africa Partnership Forum, NEPAD Steering Committee Meetings, APR Fora, etc.

u Liaising with Ghana Missions abroad on NEPAD issues especially sharing of best experiences on Ghana's lead role in NEPAD and APRM Implementation

u Prepare briefs, speeches and talking points in connection with participation by Ghana in these NEPAD meetings/Seminars.

6. Covering Meetings on NEPAD issues, representing the Ministry in Committees, Seminars, workshops and Conferences on NEPAD etc.