President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Gabriel Opoku-Asare, a Presidential Staffer and corporate executive, as the new Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Road Maintenance Trust Fund (RMTF).

His appointment was announced following the inauguration of the Fund's 15-member Board by the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, in Accra on Monday, November 9, 2026.

Opoku-Asare takes over from Isaac Adjei Mensah, the Member of Parliament for Wassa East, who previously chaired the Board.

The new Chairman has more than 20 years of experience in corporate affairs, international trade and public policy, having held senior leadership positions in multinational companies across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.

He currently serves as Chief Export Development Officer at the Office of the President under the 24-Hour Economy initiative, where he leads efforts to transform Ghana's export sector and improve access to international markets, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

His previous career engagements include senior executive positions at Diageo, Guinness Ghana Breweries, Unilever Ghana and pawaTech.

At Diageo, he held leadership roles in Africa, Southeast Asia and North America, overseeing corporate affairs and sustainability initiatives.

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He also has experience in road safety advocacy, having led a partnership between Diageo and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) that integrated drink-driving awareness into Ghana's national driver's test.

In his remarks following the appointment, Opoku-Asare expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, stressing the need for accountability and value for money in the management of resources allocated to road maintenance.

"I am deeply honoured by this call to service. Road maintenance is where public money either protects lives and livelihoods or is lost to potholes and delay," he stated.

He further pledged that the Board would work closely with the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Parliament, road agencies, the private sector and road users to ensure that the Fund delivers on its mandate.

The Road Maintenance Trust Fund was established under the Road Maintenance Trust Fund Act, 2025 (Act 1147), replacing the former Road Fund.

Its 15-member Board includes representatives of government ministries, professional institutions, traditional authorities, road contractors, civil society and road users.

MRA/EB

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