By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Ishmael Yamson
& Associates (IY&A) has announced the appointment of Richard Osei-Anim
as Senior Partner, where he will lead the Firm's Organisational Transformation
Advisory — AI Global Practice. The role marks a strategic investment in
deepening IY&A's capabilities at a moment when artificial intelligence is
fundamentally reshaping how African enterprises compete, operate, and create
value.
For Richard,
the appointment represents a natural evolution. Over the past decade, he has
built a reputation as one of Africa's foremost architects of large-scale
digital transformation — not through theory, but through execution.
A track record
built on delivery
As Group CEO of
Durham & Cheshunt Holdings and Coral Reef Innovation Africa, Richard has
led the development of digital learning ecosystems that have reached
approximately one million learners and
teachers across the continent — equipping them with AI, STEM, and
future-of-work skills at a scale few have achieved.
His flagship
initiative, Ghana's National Digital
Literacy Project, deployed 45,000 devices, established 700 Smart Labs
nationwide, and trained 1,400 teachers — a programme that has become a
reference point for national-scale digital education across Africa.
He also
co-launched LearnAIrium, an
AI-powered learning platform developed in partnership with Intel, MTN, ABSA,
Coronation, and Old Mutual. Beyond education, Richard has mentored over 120
startups and helped mobilise nearly $50 million in seed capital — contributing
directly to Africa's emerging innovation economy.
His advisory
portfolio includes Ghana Cocobod, Newmont Ghana, UNESCO, Ecobank, Fidelity
Bank, Otumfuo Foundation ,Mastercard Foundation , GIZ, Oxfam MTN, the Ministry
of Education, and the Ghana Education Service — institutions where strategic
insight must translate into tangible, measurable outcomes.
The AI
Imperative for African enterprise
Reflecting on
his new role, Richard offered a clear-eyed assessment of what lies ahead: "Artificial intelligence is no longer
optional — it is foundational to competitiveness, productivity, and long-term
resilience. My focus at IY&A will be to help organisations move beyond AI
conversations to structured implementation, governance, and measurable
enterprise value creation. Africa must not just consume AI — we must
strategically lead in how it is applied for sustainable growth.”
Scope of the
new role
In his capacity
as Senior Partner, Richard will advise clients across five interconnected
areas:
Enterprise AI strategy – Designing implementation roadmaps that translate
ambition into measurable outcomes
Organisational redesign – Restructuring operations, workflows, and teams for
AI-enabled performance
AI governance – Building ethical frameworks, risk protocols, and
compliance structures fit for purpose
Executive & board advisory – Preparing leadership teams to navigate the complexities
of digital-era governance
Workforce transformation – Developing capabilities and talent pipelines for an
AI-augmented future
The appointment
reinforces IY&A's commitment to helping clients not merely adapt to
technological change, but to lead it.
Background and
credentials
Richard holds
an MBA from Durham Business School and is an Associate of the Chartered
Insurance Institute (ACII). He is a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach and
Kirton Adaptor-Innovation Consultant.
A former
lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)
and the University of Greenwich, Richard brings a rare combination of academic
rigour, entrepreneurial instinct, and boardroom credibility. He currently
serves as a director of Wanderlust Ghana, an expedition initiative promoting
global exploration and leadership development.
Richard
Osei-Anim
Richard
Osei-Anim is a strategic EdTech leader and AI transformation advisor dedicated
to advancing digital readiness, access, and equity across Africa. Through his
work spanning public policy, private enterprise, and institutional advisory, he
continues to shape the continent's future-of-work and digital competitiveness
agenda.
Ishmael Yamson
& Associates
Ishmael Yamson
& Associates is a premier African management consulting firm providing
strategic advisory services across organisational transformation, governance,
enterprise growth, and leadership development. The Firm partners with
corporations, governments, and development organisations to deliver measurable
impact and long-term value creation.
