The Director of Finance

Dr. Gabriel Sam Ahinful

Dr. Gabriel Sam Ahinful assume duty as the Director of Finance with vast experience in the field of finance, accounting, auditing and public sector administration. He is a fellow of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), UK and a member of Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG). He is an experienced finance manager with over ten years in senior financial management roles making sound commercial decisions and providing well informed strategic level advice to senior executives. His experiences in both public and private sectors have been in the areas of strategic planning and decision making, procurement of goods, services and works, risk management and donor fund management (projects) and financial management.

In the private sector, Dr Ahinful has worked with Asamoah Bonsu and Co (Chartered Accountants) where he was involved in several audit assignments as a team leader. The assignments included both public and private organisations such as Ghana Government and Africa Development Bank (AfDB) community forestry management project under the Forestry Commission, Ghana Post, National Health Insurance Scheme, Ashanti Kotoko Sporting Club. As the team leader, he also presented and led discussions of audit reports at annual general meetings. Dr Ahinful also worked with Participatory Development Associates (PDA) where he was the head of finance. During his time at PDA, the accounting systems were computerised and staff were offered training on the usage of sage accounting software. This improved the timely production of reports to our partners all over the world. Dr Ahinful was one of the key members who founded Yaa Asantewaa Rural Bank Ltd in 2012 and served as the first vice-chairman of the Bank during which period the bank’s assets increased remarkably with three additional branches and exceeding the current minimum capital requirement.

Dr. Ahinful joined Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 2006 as a Lecturer and then the Finance office as the Head of Payables in 2009. In 2010 he was the Ag. Deputy Finance Officer of the College of Science and Head of Accounts Unit of the University Examination Centre (Photocopy Unit) in 2019. During these periods, he managed several donor-funded projects funds including AMMA, Qweci, Delphe, Grand Challenges Canada, etc. He was part of the management team who resourced the Aboagye Menyah complex building for successful usage. He has written several management papers which impacted on policy at the various units, university-wide and beyond. As the Head of Payables, he initiated the rent allowance (in 2009) which was approved by the University Council which replaced rent advance payment by the University. The effect of this policy in its entirety is very huge and has given fiscal space to the University. Again, through diligent investment and management, he was able to increase College of Science cash investment by 86.57%. He was one of the three-member committee who drafted the current accounting policies and procedures manual of KNUST which has given clear direction on the accounting treatment of items for the staff. He also initiated policy direction on Student Associations’ fund at College of Science which brought about better control, usage and accountability of the associations’ funds. His hard work was recognized in 2013 when he was adjudged the overall best College Accountant, KNUST, 2013/14 academic year.

Dr. Ahinful has also served as a member on various boards and committees including KNUST Photocopy Management Board, KNUST Photocopy Management Board Procurement Committee, University of Bournemouth Faculty Board (UK), KNUST Accounting Manual committee, Yaa Asantewaa Rural Bank Loans Committee, Easy Investment Co-operative Credit Union Credit Committee, KNUST College of Science Management Board, KNUST College of Science Procurement Committee, KNUST College of Science Restaurant Committee, KNUST International Programmes’ Board, KNUST College of Science Parallel Programs Remuneration Committee, KNUST School of Business Remuneration Committee and Departmental Examination Officer, KNUST School of Business.

Dr. Ahinful holds BSc. Administration (Accounting option) from University of Ghana, Masters’ Degree (MSc) in International Finance, Banking and Investment from London South Bank University (UK) and PhD in Accounting from Bournemouth University, (UK).

Dr. Gabriel Sam Ahinful has been awarded research grant and scholarship by Diaspora Forum for Development (DFD), Binckhorstlaan, Netherlands and Bournemouth University, UK respectively. He has attended several workshops and seminars in accounting, taxation, Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), procurement and management of higher education. He has also attended and presented research papers at international conferences. He is also a reviewer for several international journals. His research interests include the link between environmental management practices and financial performance, social and environmental reporting, SME financing and accounting education.

Dr. Gabriel Sam Ahinful is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), UK. He has several years of teaching experience in higher education including full time Lecturer at School of Business, KNUST, Part-time lecturer Institute of Distance and Continuous Education, University of Ghana, Facilitator and Coordinator, Institute of Distance Education, KNUST, Part-Time Lecturer Garden City University College, Ghana, and Part-time Lecturer, Bournemouth University, UK. Subjects taught over the period at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels include Financial Reporting, Corporate Reporting, Advanced Accounting Theory and Practice, Auditing, Management Accounting, Advanced Investment Management and International Banking. He has also supervised several undergraduate and postgraduate theses over the years.

Dr. Ahinful enjoys academic writing, teaching, football, tennis and athletics. He is married with three children; two boys and a girl. He worships with the church of Pentecost.

FAQ

Alumni

Everything that I learned at TTU really helped put me above the competition in the field of mechanical engineering.

Adowa Koomson