The Institute for Oil and Gas Studies of the University of Cape Coast has honoured the Chief Executive Officer of GNPC, Dr. Kofi Koduah Sarpong.
The astute businessman was honoured for his foresight and leadership in setting up the Professorial Chairs in four public Universities in the country.
Dr. Sarpong was bestowed the honour at the Institute’s Seventh Oil and Gas Public Lecture Series and Awards Image Ceremony held at the UCC campus on Thursday, February 17, 2022.
The event witnessed top personalities in attendance and was chaired by the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong.
Dr. Sarpong was honoured with the Distinguished Contribution Award, with the citation: “For Visionary and Transformational Leadership in the Establishment of the Four GNPC Petroleum Chairs for Capacity Building in the Oil and Gas sector in Ghana “.
Dr. Sarpong was born at Nsuta-Beposo in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, and obtained his GCE Ordinary Level certificate from the Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School in Bekwai and his GCE Advanced Level from Sekondi College.
He gained admission to the University of Ghana to pursue a course in Business Administration, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Dr. KK Sarpong gained a World Bank scholarship in 1987 to study a Master of Business Administration from the University of Ghana.
Upon completing his master’s education, he was awarded a graduate scholarship to pursue a Master of Accountancy at the University of Glasgow in 1990.
A Commonwealth Scholarship offered him the opportunity to apply for a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Industrial and Business Studies from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.
The affable business leader also holds a Master of Arts in Ministry from the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon.
He is a Chartered accountant from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, United Kingdom.
Dr. Sarpong was employed as an assistant accountant in 1979 at the now defunct Meat Marketing Board.
In 1980, he was employed as Deputy Chief Accountant at Ghana Food Distribution Corporation.
He rose through the ranks at the corporation to become Chief Accountant and subsequently general manager of the corporation. He resigned in 1990 to further his studies outside Ghana.
Upon his return to Ghana in 1993, Dr. Sarpong was employed as Deputy Chief executive of Ghana Cocoa Board. He took up appointment at the International Cocoa Organization, London in 1998 and served as the Head of Administration and Financial Services Division in 2001.
In 2004, the then President of Ghana, John Kufuor, appointed Dr. Sarpong as the Deputy managing director of the Tema Oil Refinery.
He was made the managing director of the refinery in 2007. When the John Evans Atta-Mills administration was voted into power in 2009, Sarpong was relieved of the position.
From 2010 to 2013, Dr. Sarpong served as Executive Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Sporting Club. He was appointed by Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, King of the Asante Kingdom.
Under his administration, Asante Kotoko won two Ghana Premier League titles, two Champion of Champions titles, and two FA Cup Runners-up positions.
Strategic co-operations with foreign clubs were also established with Sunderland A.F.C. in the United Kingdom, TP Mazembe in DR Congo and Petro Luanda in Angola.
After Asante Kotoko, Dr. Sarpong took up the position of Chief executive of The Global Haulage Group, a Ghanaian cocoa buying and exporting company. He was also the chairman of the boards of The Royal Bank, Ghana and Imperial General Assurance Ltd.He resigned from boards in 2016
In February 2017, President Nana Akufo-Addo, appointed Sarpong as Acting chief executive officer of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation. He replaced Alex Mould who had served as CEO since 2013.
