Alhaji asuma banda biography for kids
•
Interview with Alhaji Asoma Banda
Interview conducted by Emmanuel Akyeampong (Harvard University) with David Owusu-Ansah (James Madison University) as part of the Islam and Tolerance Project
Interview Date 26 July 2006
Location of Interview: Accra-Ghana in the Office of Antrak Company.
Opening statement by Dr. Akyeampong: Today is 26 July 2006. We are at the office of Alhaji Asoma Banda , CEO of Antrak Company. We are here to talk generally and more broadly about his life, about his faith, and about his work. His title, Alhaji [indicates that] he is a Muslim and a prominent one, who also built for the faith one of the important Mosques in Accra [Ghana] located at the Airport Residential Area. Alhaji, let's start by you telling us a little bit about your life so we can create a biographical profile. I know you have told me some in an informal way but this one will be a voice file that someone can [visit] and decide that he or she is more interested in your life than my interest in y
•
“I was the first person to bring in a Ro-Ro into Africa…” – Alhaji Asoma Banda.
Alhaji Dr. Asoma Banda is the undisputed doyen of African shipping. By the way he managed the acquisition of O T Africa Line (OTAL) in 1985 and subsequently sold it to the Bollore Group in the 1990s just before a crunch, he proved his mettle, made a lot of money and a reputation that is hard to put down. At the end of the day, he ate his cake and still has it, for he remains the chairman of OTAL. In addition, he has devoted much time to developing his intermodal logistics chain, the Antraks Group, which is active in road, air and sea haulage in his native Ghana and other African countries.
A man of many official roles, Alhaji Banda is the executive chairman, Antrak Air, executive chairman of Antrak Express Ltd; president, Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana; board chairman, Meridian Port Services Ltd; and board member of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Maritime Authority and The
•
Alhaji Asoma Abu Banda
Profile
Renowned entrepreneur, business magnate, philanthropist, role model and patriot, born in June 1933 at Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo distrikt of Ghana, Alhaji Asoma Abu Banda was destined to create employment and economic empowerment for many people worldwide. After his elementary education at Kintampo and Kumasi Government Boys respectively, he went on to receive Ordinary and Advanced Level certificate as well as 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.
Born into a family with a strong business orientation , Alhaji Asoma Abu Banda naturally got initiated into the family business. At a tender age, he worked with his father in the road frakt business and showed early signs of hard work and entrepreneurship. Between 1955 and 1957, he was assigned the arduous job of buying