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Kofi Appenteng

West Africa Fund Bio 2013

Chief Executive Officer, Constant Capital Ghana Ltd.

Kofi Appenteng recently launched The West Africa Fund, a private equity fund based in Accra, Ghana, that invests in middle market companies in the West African region. Previously, Mr. Appenteng had a 16 year career at Thacher Proffitt in general corporate practice, joining in 1991 as an Associate and becoming a Partner in 1994.

At Thacher Proffitt, he was a member of the Corporate and Financial Institutions Practice Group. He advised foreign and domestic individuals and companies on matters related to corporate governance, securities law compliance, acquisitions, corporate finance, regulatory compliance and crisis management, among other issues. He was an associate at Webster & Sheffield before joining Thacher Proffitt.

Mr. Appenteng has counseled a wide range of clients, from bank holding companies to entrepreneurial enterprises and foundations. He also advises non-profit institutions on a variety of matters as he helps them to achieve their goals and objectives.

He is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a member of the New York City, New York State and the American Bar Associations. He also serves on the boards of The Ford Foundation, University of Cape Town Fund, Inc., Community Service Society of New York, among many other professional and civic affiliations. Born in Ghana, West Africa, he attended preparatory schools in England and came to the U.S. to attend Wesleyan University and then Columbia University Law School. 1)

Hilton Foundation Bio 2022

Kofi Appenteng is the president and CEO of the Africa-America Institute (AAI), a 65-year-old organization with a mission of promoting enlightened engagement between Africa and America through education, training and dialogue. With more than 15,000 African alumni from more than 50 African countries, AAI has tremendous reach and is a trusted brand.

Appenteng has 30 years of domestic and international experience as a corporate lawyer, investment banker and board director. He previously served as senior counsel at Dentons, a global law firm with more than 75 offices in 50 countries; and is a senior advisor to The Rock Creek Group, a global investment and advisory firm.

Throughout his career, Appenteng has been active with numerous civil society organizations. He is currently a member of the board at the Ford Foundation, a $12 billion global grantmaking foundation headquartered in New York City with 10 offices throughout Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Additionally, Appenteng serves on the board of the International Center for Transitional Justice, a human rights organization that provides technical assistance to governments in Latin America, Asia and Africa. In recognition of his work in business and philanthropy, he was named a “Great American Immigrant” by the Carnegie Corporation in 2013.

Born in Ghana, West Africa, Appenteng began his education in England where he completed his primary and secondary education and the came to the United States to attend college at Wesleyan University. At Wesleyan, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree; was awarded the Butterfield Prize for character, leadership and intellectual commitment; and captained the soccer and athletic teams while earning recognition as a member of the All-American soccer team. He earned a Juris Doctor from Columbia University where he was an international fellow. Appenteng then began his career as a corporate lawyer and, in 1994, became the first Black African to become a partner at a major New York City law firm.2)

Executive & Board Seats

President of the Africa-America Institute (AAI), which was founded in 1953 with a mission of promoting enlightened engagement between Africa and America through education, training and dialogue. With more than 23,000 African alumni from more than 50 African countries, AAI has tremendous reach and is a trusted brand.

Chairman of the Board of Ford Foundation a $12 billion global grant making foundation headquartered in New York City with 10 offices throughout Latin America, Asia and Africa. He is the first African to serve in this position.

Board of Dorectors the International Center for Transitional Justice, a human rights organization that provides technical assistance to governments in Latin America, Asia and Africa. In recognition of his work in business and philanthropy, he was named a “Great American Immigrant” by the Carnegie Corporation in 2013.3)

Hilton Foundation Member, Board of Directors since 2019

RockCreek Group Advisory Board 4)

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