Our Team

Barbara Ghansah

CEO

An Agricultural Finance, SME & Impact Investment Expert with extensive experience of over 25 years in West Africa, particularly Ghana. Barbara has experience and skills in SME investments and agricultural financing; grants structuring and management; project analysis and evaluation; feasibility studies and business planning; strategy development and implementation support, management and operations reviews; due diligence reviews and project appraisal; business valuation and financial analysis.

She has worked extensively with agribusinesses and women-led SMEs in Ghana and other West African countries, notably Sierra Leone and Liberia, and across various value chains and industries. Barbara has successfully facilitated access to finance and provided business development services for several agribusinesses and SMEs including early-stage businesses.

Over the years she has also developed and maintained extensive networks both formally and informally with several partners and stakeholders, among government, private sector and international development organisations.

Ekow Mensah

Head of Partnerships & Enterprise Support

Ekow Mensah is an accomplished business strategist, consultant and coach with over 15 years of experience in enterprise development, organizational growth and strategic partnerships across Africa. At Zinari Capital, he leads the Partnerships & Enterprise Support division, driving collaboration with investors, entrepreneurs and development partners to create sustainable pathways for business growth, impact investing and inclusive economic development.

Recognized among the 100 Africa Most Impactful Change Makers (2022) and 100 Most Influential Young Africans, Ekow’s work spans entrepreneurship development, women’s economic empowerment, SME capacity building, ESG consulting and policy advocacy. He has supported over 10,000 entrepreneurs and professionals through training, mentorship and advisory, working with institutions such as Development Bank Ghana, Ghana National Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Ashesi University, British Council, Kosmos Innovation Center and international organizations like Dwellworks (USA).

A certified coach by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Founder of The African Network of Entrepreneurs (TANOE), VentureScale and The WomanRising Network, Ekow has led transformative initiatives including the design of the WomanRising 5000 Project, training & support women entrepreneurs across all 16 regions of Ghana and consulting on high-level projects with multinational corporations and government-backed programs. His leadership experience extends to serving as Chairman of the Public Leaders Fellowship Program Design Committee for Emerging Public Leaders (EPL) Ghana and as a consultant on national policy reforms in entrepreneurship and social enterprise.

With a 1st degree in Mathematics from KNUST and an MBA in Impact Entrepreneurship & Innovation from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy, Ekow brings a rare blend of strategic vision, practical execution and a deep commitment to empowering businesses to scale sustainably. At Zinari Capital, his focus is on forging impactful partnerships, delivering enterprise support and ensuring that African businesses are well-positioned to attract investment and thrive in competitive markets.

Hadirat Sheriff

Investment Manager

Hadirat is a seasoned Finance and Investment Expert with over 15 years of experience in commercial banking and private equity in Ghana. She began her career at Midland Savings and Loans Limited, where she initially served as a national service personnel and was later employed as a cashier. Her career progressed as she joined GN Bank, where she started as a Credit Officer and eventually rose to the position of Branch Manager in 2019.

In 2019, Hadirat transitioned into the private equity sector as an Investment Analyst at Impact Capital Advisors. Her expertise in investment analysis and portfolio management led to her promotion to Portfolio Manager in 2022. Currently, she serves as the Investment Manager at Zinari Capital Limited, where she continues to apply her deep knowledge of private equity and investment strategies.

With a proven track record in private equity, investment analysis, and portfolio management, Hadirat also brings strong customer service experience and exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. She has demonstrated her ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to drive successful outcomes.

Hadirat holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Ghana Business School and a B.Sc. in Administration (Banking and Finance) from the Islamic University of Ghana. Additionally, she is a certified Chartered Investment Analyst from the Ghana Investment and Securities Institute (GISI).

John Ato Koomson

Chief Finance Officer & AML/CFT Officer

John Ato Koomson is a seasoned finance and investment professional with over a decade of experience spanning petroleum retail, donor-funded programs, tech start-ups, private equity, and venture capital. In addition to his strong background in financial management and internal controls, he is a Chartered Investment Analyst with expertise in evaluating and structuring investments for SMEs. John also serves as an Anti-Money Laundering & Compliance Officer, ensuring that all investment activities meet the highest standards of regulatory compliance and governance.

John holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Cape Coast and a B.Ed in Mathematics from the University of Education, Winneba. He is a Chartered Investment Analyst with Ghana Investment and Securities Institute (GISI) and a certified accountant with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), (UK).

Sandra Boatemaa Boachie

Office Manager

Sandra is a communications professional with additional skills in client service management and administration. She has experience in corporate communications (both internal and external communications) and office management. She also has social media and networking expertise. Her previous professional experience includes working as an Administrative Agent with an international immigration agency and National Service Personnel at the Ghana Revenue Authority in Accra. Sandra has a B.A. Degree in Communication Studies (Journalism). She is a highly motivated individual with outstanding organizational and planning abilities.