The Ghana office of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council has paid tribute to the memory and significant contributions of Herman Chinery-Hesse, its inaugural Chairperson for Business and Technology.
Chinery-Hesse, who passed away on September 16, 2024, was often hailed as the ‘Bill Gates of Africa’ by the BBC for his transformative impact on West Africa’s digital landscape through his software company, SOFTtribe.
In a statement to the press, Dr. John Apea, Head of Mission for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council in Western Africa, remarked, “Herman leaves behind an enviable legacy that will continue to shape Africa’s technological landscape. He was a dynamic, creative, and innovative leader, and it is no wonder that Google celebrated him just days before his passing. He will be greatly missed by those he mentored.”
As the founder of SOFTtribe, Chinery-Hesse revolutionized West Africa’s tech sector, creating innovations that not only catered to the region but also redefined the possibilities for the continent’s future. Under his visionary leadership, SOFTtribe developed a wide array of innovative solutions that significantly advanced various industries in Ghana, playing a crucial role in the country’s digital evolution.
Born in 1963 in Dublin to a family with strong connections to government and diplomacy, Chinery-Hesse attended the prestigious Mfantsipim School in Ghana, Westlake High School in Texas, and Texas State University, where he earned a degree in industrial technology.
