Affiliation: African Center for Economic Transformation

Biography:

K. Y. Amoako is the founder and president of the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), an institute that provides governments in Africa with policy research and advice. Amoako began his career in 1974 at the World Bank, becoming the Bank's Director for Education and Social Policy from 1992-1995. From 1995-2005, Amoako served as Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) at the rank of Under Secretary General of the UN. Among several initiatives he pioneered at the ECA was the establishment of the African Trade Policy Center to conduct research and provide support on trade negotiations to African governments. After his 10-year stint at ECA, Amoako spent 2006 as a Distinguished African Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC. Amoako has worked with leading development experts and political leaders on high-level international commissions and task forces that address the development prospects of Africa and many of today's central global issues. Among many others, he chaired the Commission for HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa and was a member of the Commission for Africa as well the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health and the Task Force on Global Public Goods. Amoako holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Ghana, and a PhD in Economics from University of California, Berkeley.