Meet Ken Ofori-atta, the former finance minister of Ghana
Ken Ofori-Atta is a Ghanaian politician, investment banker, and economist. He was the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning in Nana Akufo-Addo's cabinet from 2017 until 2024. Ken co-founded Databank Group, a Ghanaian financial services company, and acted as executive chairman until 2012 when he retired.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Ken Ofori-Atta is a Ghanaian investment banker who served as the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning from 2017 to 2024.
- He was born on 7 November 1958 in Kibi, Ghana.
- Ken graduated from Columbia University in 1984 and worked at Morgan Stanley in New York.
- He was President Nana Akufo-Addo's nominee to evaluate the state of the economy during the transition period following the 2016 elections.
Ken Ofori-Atta’s profile summary
| Full name | Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 7 November 1958 |
| Age | 66 years old (as of February 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Scorpio |
| Place of birth | Kibi, Eastern Region, Ghana |
| Current residence | Accra, Ghana |
| Nationality | Ghanaian |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Marital status | Married |
| Wife | Angela Lamensdorf Ofori-Atta |
| Children | 4 |
| Father | Jones Ofori Atta |
| Education | Columbia University, Yale University |
| Profession | Politician, investment banker, economist |
| Net worth | $260 million |
Ken Ofori-Atta's biography
Kenneth Ofori-Atta was born in Kibi, an urban area in Ghana's Eastern Region, to Jones Ofori Atta. His father was a Ghanaian economist, politician, senior lecturer in economics at the University of Ghana, and ministerial secretary for Finance and Economic Planning under the Busia administration.
Source: UGC
How old is Ken Ofori-Atta?
The Ghanaian politician is 66 years old as of February 2025. He was born on 7 November 1958. His zodiac sign is Scorpio.
Educational background
Ofori-Atta completed his O-level and A-level certificates at Achimota School in 1976 and 1978, respectively. He acquired temporary employment as a mathematics instructor at Accra Academy after finishing his A-levels at Achimota. Ofori-Atta enrolled in Columbia University's B.A. program in economics in August 1980.
In 1984, he graduated from Columbia University and began working at Morgan Stanley in New York. Ken attended Yale University School of Management and graduated with an MBA in 1988 before joining Salomon Brothers, an investment bank.
Source: Getty Images
Ken Ofori-Atta's career progress
Ken Ofori-Atta is a politician, investment banker, and economist. He has commercial interests in retail banking, insurance, microfinance, pharmaceuticals, real estate, and private equity. Ofori-Atta has served as a director for several corporations and boards.
He served as a director for Enterprise Group Ltd and Trust Bank Ltd of The Gambia, where he is the chairman. Ofori-Atta has also served as a director at the International Bank and on the board of the Acumen Fund.
Ken Ofori-Atta's political career
Ofori-Atta was appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo to analyse the economy's health during the transition period following the 2016 elections. In May 2017, president Akufo-Addo announced Ken Ofori-Atta as one of 19 ministers who would compose his Cabinet.
Ken Ofori-Atta was a cabinet minister and a Preside Akufo-Addo's inner circle member. He was chosen Chair of the World Bank/IMF Development Committee during the 2018 Spring Meetings.
Ken also serves as Chair of the African Capacity Building Foundation's Governing Board. He also served as the Chair of the World Bank's African Caucus. During his term, Ofori-Atta handled Ghana's debt restructuring operations after the government defaulted on the majority of its international debts in December 2022.
What is Ken Ofori-Atta's net worth?
According to various sources, the Ghanaian economist has an alleged net worth of $260 million. He earns his income through his career as a politician, investor, and economist.
Source: Getty Images
Meet Ken Ofori-Atta’s wife and children
Ken is married to Professor Angela Lamensdorf Ofori-Atta. She works as an associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of Ghana Medical School. Angela Lamensdorf served as deputy minister for Manpower Development and Employment under the Kufour administration from 2003 to 2005.
Ken Ofori-Atta's children
Ofori-Atta and his wife, Angela Lamensdorf, have four children. He also has an adopted son, Ofori Atta Kwaku, who is a 2023 graduate of KNUST Culture and Tourism.
Ken Ofori-Atta's daughter, Nana Obrempongmaa Ofori-Atta, rose to prominence after purportedly being mentioned as one of 86 politically connected individuals who received GETFund scholarships and sponsorships to study overseas at taxpayer expense.
She was no. 76. Nana Obrempongmaa has an alleged GETFUND scholarship for $57,000. Her scholarship is allegedly among the top twenty most expensive of the 88 beneficiaries in the audit report.
Understanding Ken Ofori-Atta's family tree
Ken Ofori-Atta belongs to the prominent Ghanaian Ofori-Atta family, known for its influence in business, politics, law, and chieftaincy. His lineage traces back to Ofori Atta I, followed by Nana Sir Ofori Atta I, then Jones Ofori Atta, and finally to Ken Ofori-Atta.
Source: Getty Images
FAQs
- Who is Ken Ofori-Atta? He is a Ghanaian politician, investment banker, and economist.
- What is Ken Ofori-Atta known for? He is widely recognised for his role as Ghana’s Minister for Finance and Economic Planning from 2017 to 2024.
- What is Ken Ofori-Atta's age? He is 66 years old as of February 2025. Ofori-Atta was born on 7 November 1958.
- Where does Ken Ofori-Atta come from? He hails from Kibi, Eastern Region, Ghana.
- Who is Ken Ofori-Atta's mother? The Ghanaian investor has not revealed details about his mother.
- How many children does Ken Ofori-Atta have? He has four children and an adopted son, Ofori Atta Kwaku.
- Is Ken Ofori-Atta married? Yes. He is married to Angela Lamensdorf, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the University of Ghana Medical School.
Ken Ofori-Atta is a prominent Ghanaian politician, investment banker, and economist. He is well-known for his service as Ghana's Minister of Finance and Economic Planning from 2017 until 2024. Ken is married to Angela Lamensdorf, and the couple has four children and one adopted son.
Yen.com.gh published an article featuring Alan Kyerematen's biography. Alan Kyerematen is a Ghanaian corporate executive, politician, diplomat, lawyer, and a former New Patriotic Party member.
Alan Kyerematen has had a successful corporate career, holding major roles in several global corporations, in addition to being a notable figure in Ghanaian politics. Read the article to learn more about him.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Ferdie Rodgers Ferdie Rodgers is a content creator who studied Journalism and Applied Communication at Multimedia University of Kenya and enjoys compiling content that is enlightening to the reader. Ferdie enjoys writing about trending topics such as entertainment, travelling blogs, sports, technology & science, lifestyle, and politics.
Tatiana Thiga (Lifestyle writer) Tatiana Thiga is a content creator who joined Yen in 2022. She is an English literature graduate from Kenyatta University. She has amassed sufficient knowledge working on a variety of topics, including biographies, fashion and lifestyles, guides, and more. In 2023, Tatiana finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her at tatianathiga@gmail.com
