Alhaji Asoma Banda is a Ghanaian entrepreneur, business magnate, philanthropist, role model and patriot, one of the richest men in Ghana.
Banda owns multiple businesses and has created employment for a huge number of Ghanaians.
Recently, this great man has been in the news for all the wrong reasons as his family fight each other over his wealth whilst he’s dying in his hospital bed.
That has piqued curiosity about the man and in this article, we bring you all there is to know about Asoma Banda.
Biography
Asoma Banda was born at Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region. He had his elementary education at Kintampo and Kumasi Government Boys respectively, before going on to receive his Ordinary and Advanced Level certificate.
He later studied for a diploma in Marketing/ Sales Management in London. He later undertook several courses in Marketing, Management and Shipping to help him understand better and excel in the line of the profession he had chosen for himself.
Banda’s was born into a business oriented family, equipping him with the skills he needed to excel in his career later on. At a tender age, his father entrusted him with the arduous job of buying cattle from Mali, Niger and Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and transporting them on foot to Kumasi, a job which he executed with diligence and devotion.
He travelled to London in 1960 to further his education. He later entered the service of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) of London as a Director in charge of Africa and the Middle East.
Businesses
In 1975, Alhaji Banda founded a shipping company in London, OT Africa line, and Antrak Group of Companies (London and Ghana) with his business partners.
Due to his able leadership and business acumen, his company has now grown to have over 146 branches in countries across the world, creating jobs for over 500,000 people globally.
Banda owns Antrak Air, which he is the Chairman of. It is the only hundred percent Ghanaian – owned aviation Company, the first of its kind in the history of the aviation industry in the country.
Age
Alhaji Asoma Banda is 89 years old. He was born in June 1933.
Family
Alhaji Asoma Banda has at least two wives, although there could be more. He also has numerous children with his wives.
A battle over his wealth has been sparked by his family after he fell ill for close to two years now.
Philanthropy
Asoma Banda financed the reconstruction, refurbishment and maintenance of the maternity wing of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in 1999 at a cost of nearly one billion Cedis.
In collaboration with foreign partners, he invested ten million US Dollars (about 70 billion Cedis ) in the establishment of the Tema Container Terminal resulting in the creation of about 100 jobs.
Banda financed the construction of a female Cell for Nima Police Station in Accra.
He caters for over 3,000 people annually. As a staunch and devout Muslim, Alhaji Banda has constructed a Mosque at the Airport Residential Area at a total cost of over one million US Dollars.
Awards and Achievements
- First African to own a ship and first Ghanaian to own an aircraft.
- Companion of the Order of Volta by the State
- Ghana’s Best Ever Transport and Logistics personality of the Year by the Charted Institute of Transport and Logistics in 2006
- Honoured for lifetime achievement by the Ghana Shippers Council in recognition of his great strides in maritime industry.
- Entrepreneur of decade (2001) by EMPRETEC Ghana Foundation.
- Kwame Nkrumah Leaders Awards (2003) by All African Students Union in recognition of his leadership qualities and support for the youth and students in Africa and the Diaspora.
- Awarded the title of Fellow of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi for acts of benevolence in 2002 during the University’s Special Golden Jubilee Congregation Award.
- Conferment of Honorary Degree of Doctor of Entrepreneurship (Honoris Causa) by the University of Cape Coast.
- Conferment of Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
- West Africa Maritime lifetime Achievement Award 2009.
- Golden Star award for Aviation Operation in West Africa 2009
- Silver Award from the Brong Ahafo Region during the celebration of their 50th anniversary.
- His Shipping company won the Best Shipping line of the World Twice (1999/2000)
Source: GhanaCelebrities.Com