Heirs and heiress to several businesses and empires, children of the wealthy are considered as some of the most privileged persons on the planet; living exciting ostentatious lives and making an impact in their chosen fields.
The situation is no different in today’s Ghana where an extreme show of wealth and affluence is gradually gaining grounds albeit with caution. (If you got it, we say flaunt it)
Children blessed with aristocratic families are the envy of their compatriots and even elders as they live their best lives flying first class, eating in Michelin-star-rated restaurants, sleeping in the best hotels across the world, driving the most expensive cars and the list goes on.
Unlike in other jurisdictions, there are no official records of who make up the business oligarchs and plutocrats in Ghana. Ghana till date does not have any of its citizens in the Forbes annual rich list due to the secretive nature of its rich men and women
Media publications tend to rely heavily on speculative rumours, popularity and most at times estimates of what their companies are worth to determine the worth of some of these people.
Once again with young, bold, eccentric and charismatic children of these superrich, we get a feel and taste of luxury as seen in Kevin Kwan’s “Crazy Rich Asians”.
After careful investigative research and deep digging, we found these 18 super-rich kids who are blessed to have a family legacy and deep-seated connections.
READ MORE: 22 badass businesswomen under 40 according to this beauty guru/fashion entrepreneur.
In no particular order, meet the 18 young men and women who are literally sitting on gold mines and fortunes a.k.a “Crazy Rich Ghanaians”
Tamara B Jonah-Goka
Tamara Jonah-Goka is the founder and Creative Director of the Lionhearts Group, an events and hospitality company.
She is the heiress to Ghanaian business mogul, Sir Samuel Esson Jonah who is estimated to be worth a billion dollars or more.
Mr Jonah is also the executive chairman of titular equity firm, Jonah Capital which has stakes in several industries and served as President of AngloGold Ashanti.
Tamara-Jonah-Goka is married to the Eric Goka, manager of Twist Night Club and the twist franchise who is from another affluent Ghanaian family with relations to Ghana’s First Lady.
Kevin Okyere
Kevin Okyere is the founder and C.E.O of Springfield Energy Ltd, a multi-billion dollar company.
The young entrepreneur who has been interviewed by millionaire TV personality, Stevy Harvey was born in 1980 to an affluent family in Ghana’s gold-rich Ashanti region.
In a Forbes profile on his life, the magazine reports that “His father had built a substantial fortune in construction, steel manufacturing and large-scale cocoa farming before he was enstooled as a traditional chief.”
It continued: “Okyere displayed entrepreneurial promise at a very young age. By the time he was 11, he was already selling iced water to football supporters in the Kumasi Sports Stadium to make extra pocket money.”
“During his family’s annual summer vacation trips to London, he would take on jobs with textile companies in the U.K,” the magazine reports.
Kevin’s company Springfield was given the block, known as West Cape Three Points Block 2, by Ghana’s government in 2016 after it was relinquished by Kosmos Energy.
He attended Opoku Ware Senior High School, later he left to the USA for further studies in Accounting at the George Mason University in Virginia.
Kennedy Osei
Kennedy Osei is the eldest son of Ghanaian media mogul and industralist, Dr. Osei Kwame Despite.
The once social-media-shy Kennedy was thrown into the public space in February 2020 when news broke about his impending wedding.
Osei is the current General Manager of the Despite Group of Companies. He is also the Executive Managing Director of Golden Crystal Lodge.
He holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Ghana and a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Birmingham.
Martin Beeko
Martin is the Chief Operating Officer of the Manet Group, a major real estate development company in Ghana
He is the first son of Theresa Oppong Beeko, the CEO of Manet Group and one of the richest women in Ghana. Her wealth is estimated at a whopping $420 million and is pegged at number 24 on the unofficial rich list in Ghana
Martin Beeko is married to former news anchor and C.E.O of Inen Limited, Christal Beeko.
Kwame Blay
Kwame Blay is the son of NPP Chairman, Freddie Blay and his wife Ambassador Gina Blay.
Kwame owns the 15% of the shares of Western Group, publishers of the Daily Guide newspaper, the highest selling private newspaper in Ghana, Daily Guide Network and BBNZ.
Kwame is presently the CEO of Western Publications Limited. Until his appointment, he was the Business Development Manager of the organisation.
Agata Taricone
Agata Taricone is the daughter of Ernesto Taricone, Executive Chairman and CEO of Trasacco Group. Despite being born in Italy, he moved to Ghana in the late ’60s with his father and two brothers in search of fortune.
And they’ve found fortune in several businesses such as Agriculture, Mining, Forestry, Construction and Real Estate development including Trasacco Valley, Villagio Primavera Condominium, Villagio Vista, Casa Trasacco, and Vista Alto.
In line with family arrangements, Agata manages her father’s businesses together with her brothers.
Kojo Jones
Emmanuel Kojo Jones-Mensah is the C.E.O of real estate firm, Empire Domus and a businessman.
Kojo Jones inherited his wealth from his dad, the late Justice Emmanuel Kofi Mensah, a former vice presidential candidate of President Liman and his mother, Gifty Lamptey, the largest individual shareholder in SIDALCO, one of West Africa’s largest fertilizer distributor.
Her fortune is estimated at 135 million U.S dollars and considered as one of the richest women in Ghana
Kojo Jones worked with Atrium Park Developments in the UK after university.
He later worked and partnered with New Generation Construction in the UK to develop luxury houses for sale.
Kojo returned to Ghana in 2015. He now runs and owns multiple businesses.
Sharaf Mahama
Sharaf Mahama is a Ghanaian footballer and the son of Ghana’s former President, John Dramani Mahama.
Sharaf, 21, was signed by top-flight Belgian side Mechelen in 2016 but is currently plays as a striker for German Division six side, Verbandsliga.
His father is rumoured to have raked over 900 million dollars through his huge business investment in agro-industries and other industries. He is the candidate for the National Democratic Congress in the upcoming general elections.
Sharaf who is also a lover of cars has a few to his name including a Mercedes Benz.
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings
Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings is the daughter of Ghana’s former leader, Jerry John Rawlings and his wife, Mr Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings.
Her political heritage coupled with her family’s deep-seated connections has always led the way for the Royal College of Surgeons’ medical practitioner and lawmaker.
President Rawlings has disputed several media publications that he is worth 50 million dollars or close to that figure but sources close to the Rawlings family confirm the estimates to be true.
She attended the North Ridge Lyceum school and Achimota school for her basic education. Zanetor’s childhood was a televised reality show which saw State broadcasters and the media clamouring for her attention.
She attended the Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast and graduated in 1996. She has other siblings including Yaa Asantewaa, Amina and Kimathi Agyemang-Rawlings.
Kennedy Agyepong
31-year-old Kennedy Agyepong Jr is the son of Ghanaian politician and businessman, Kennedy Ohene-Agypong.
The heir-apparent to one of Ghana’s millionaires is believed to be a millionaire in his own rights and currently sees to the affairs of his father’s media network, Kencity Media.
He is also a co-founder of Afrochella and Studio CMG
Violet Amoabeng
Violet Awo Amoabeng is the daughter of the CEO of the defunct UT Bank, Mr Kofi Amoabeng.
She is also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Skin Gourmet Limited, a Ghanaian innovation that creates raw handmade skin products. Prior to this role, she held the position of procurement head at U.T bank.
She holds degrees from several universities including Columbia International College, Shenandoah University and the Oxford University, Magdalene College.
Dr Kwabena Duffour Jnr
Kwabena Duffuor II is the son of Ghanaian economist and former finance minister Dr Kwabena Duffour.
Despite several scandals that have hit the Duffour family in recent times including closure of their bank, Unibank, they continue to hold significant investments in Ghana and abroad under HODA holdings.
Prior to the absorption of the bank by the Bank of Ghana, Duffour Jnr was the board chairman of uniSecurities and CEO of uniBank (Ghana) Limited.
He is also the co-owner of the EIB network which comprises of several media organizations.
Nana Kwame Bediako
Nana Kwame a.k.a Cheddar who prefers to be known as Freedom Jacob Caesar these days is the C.E.O of multiple businesses including Petronia City Development, Wonda World estate, New Africa Construction, Belfast City & Property Management and the New Africa Philanthropic Foundation which are under his Kwarleyz group.
He was also a club owner during his early 20’s and purchased a car owned by Juventus player, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bediako has offices and residences across the world including prime areas in Los Angeles and Accra.
He’s had a successful career in the real estate space for nearly 20 years with 500 residential and retails designs and constructed to his credit.
Worthy of mention is the Kwarleyz apartment situated in the Airport Residential area which was christened after his beloved mother, a notable businesswoman.
Several insider sources say his fortune was handed to him by his elder brother, Kwaku Bediako, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Chase Petroleum Ghana Limited. He is also a member of the Bediako family of Appolonia who are real estate moguls.
There is also the newly built, number 1 Oxford street building which was designed by the celebrated architect Branco Cavaleiro.
He is an alumni of the University of Westminster in London.
Dior and Jake Bediako
Dior and Jake Judah Obeng-Bediako are from the Rich and connected Bediako family. Their father is one of the Bediako brothers; owners of Ernest Chemist, Media Pharmacy and other multimillion-dollar companies. The family’s fortune is worth millions of dollars.
Dior graduated from the University of Arts, London. She worked in PR and Marketing at Burberry prior to starting her own company, Pepper Your Talk and Junior Network in fashion. She’s mostly based in the United Kingdom.
Born in New York to his mum Antoinette and Bediako Snr, Jake is currently the
Global Youth Ambassador for Diaspora Affairs at the office of the President. He has a B.A in history from Columbia University and a Masters from Cambridge.
He attended SOS International, the second most expensive international school in Ghana. He also works as a lifestyle curator and leisure critic during his spare time.
Judah Bediako has been spotted in the company of Idris Elba, Boris Kodjoe, Akon, Diggy Simmons and other A-listers.
Edward Asafu Adjaye
Edward Asafu Adjaye popularly on social media as @deezydothis is a Co-founder and President of Afrochella as well as artiste manager at BBNZ Live.
Edward is the direct grandson of Sir Edward Okyere Asafu-Adjaye, an astute Ghanaian political figure, lawyer and diplomat who died in 1976.
He was a Ghanaian statesman, the first Ashanti to be a lawyer and Ghana’s first High Commissioner in Britain with accreditation to France concurrently.
The wealthy and prominent Asafu-Adjaye family are of noble blood with deep-seated connections to the Ashanti throne. His family are the owners of the prestigious E.O. Asafu-Adjaye & Co (Adonten Chambers) and has been in existence for 90 years.
He attended the Central University College.
Kofie Carter
Born Hackman Kofi Owusu-Agyemang II, Kofie Carter is an up and coming musician from Ghana, currently residing in Philadelphia, PA.
He is the son of a Ghanaian father and a half South African / Namibian mother.
Carter spent most of his childhood in Zambia and has been spotted rolling with other millionaires including Kendall Jenner and basketball player, Ben Simmons.
Okuntakinte
Ghanaian social entrepreneur, artist, and philanthropist, Joseph Nana Kwame Awuah-Darko, also known as Okuntakinte is another rich heir in the making.
His grandfather, the late Nana Awuah-Darko Ampem was the first Ghanaian Captain of the Accra Polo Club and also an Nkosuohene of Ashanti Juaso.
He first established Marine and General Insurance Brokers in 1969 after returning from his studies and working abroad. Nana Ampem was compelled to start Vanguard Assurance in 1975 after a law in 1972 made it obligatory for all government institutions in Ghana to deal directly with State Insurance Company and not through a broker.
Okuntakinte’s father, Mr Harold Quarshie Awuah-Darko is the Group Chairman of Nationwide Medical Insurance and Healthcare Network, United Pension Trustees Limited and Director at Vanguard Assurance Company Limited.
He is also the Chairman of the Suame Magazine Industrial Development Fund.
In 2019, Okuntakinte gifted a $20,000 cheque to his alma mater, a gesture that makes him the youngest major donor in Ashesi University’s history since its inception in 2002.
Fred Apaloo
Fred Apaloo is the C.E.O of Villagrace, a Boutique Catering House located in Accra, Ghana.
His grandmother, Mrs Grace Williams-Baffoe, a former headmistress of the Achimota Basic School inspired his love for the culinary arts.
The Apaloo family is an astute and aristocratic family with the family’s patriarch Frederick Kwasi Apaloo serving as Chief Justice of Ghana from 1977 to 1986 and Chief Justice of Kenya from 1993 to 1995.
He started Villagrace in 2015 after resettling in Ghana from Miami in the United States. Forbes listed him as one of Africa’s most promising entrepreneurs in their annual 30 Under 30 list.
Fred is cousins with another rich young girl, Aku Akuffo, heiress to the Akuffo fortune.
Aku Sika Akuffo
Mrs Aku Bekoe is niece to Ghana’s President, Nana Addo-Danquah Akuffo-Addo, a former Chief Justice, Mrs Sophia Akuffo and Ghana’s Attorney General, Gloria Akufo and Lawyer Kwame Akuffo.
She got married to Brian Bekoe, another aristocrat at the Osu Castle, in one of Ghana’s most expensive weddings yet.
Her mother Mrs Jacquline Akuffo popularly known as Maa is a prolific Ghanaian entrepreneur and her dad, Mr Steve Akuffo is a renowned kingmaker and financier in the National Democratic Congress.
Akuffo’s maternal grandparents are top hoteliers in the country, who own the Georgia Hotels in both Kumasi and Accra.
Her grandmother, Oheneyere Georgina Yaa Adepa known in private life as Mrs Georgina Adepa Konadu Kusi is a member of the Council of State and the owner of Adepa Pharmacy.
Aku-sika Akuffo attended the London School of Economics and a fashion blogger, she is also a barrister of both Lincoln’s Inn in the UK and the Ghana Bar.
She also has another law certificate from BPP Law School, a top tier private University in the U.K.
Kweku and Chieffy Nduom
Kweku and Cheiffy Nduom are sons of Ghanaian businessman and presidential candidate of the Progressive People’s Party.
Chiefy is quoted to have said that he and his brother raised “over $30 million USD in foreign direct investment for business in Ghana. These businesses employ hundreds of people”.
Chieffy is a lawyer and Kweku is a financial expert. They both head the family’s investment in Illinois Service Federal Savings & Loan Association in Chicago.
The Nduoms also have $9 million stakes in ISF Bank and over 60 companies under Group Ndoume.
Kobby Adu
Kwabena Asamoah Brako-Adu is a Ghanaian fashion illustrator, stylist who works with Christie Brown Ghana and Style By Rida.
Kobby is the son of Ghanaian banker and the Managing Director of CAL Bank Limited, Frank B. Adu Jnr. Frank is the Vice President of the Ghana Association of Bankers.
He served as Chairman of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) from 2006 to 2011 during which time he pioneered the computerization of the GSE and also set up the GSE Depository.
Frank is the Chairman of the Board of The Roman Ridge School, a very successful international school he co-founded and also serves on the Advisory Board of the College of Humanities of the University of Ghana.
He co-founded City Investments Company Limited, a highly successful Non-Bank Financial Institution which is now Premium Bank. He is also an entrepreneur and plays a major role in youth development in Ghana.
Despite not following Daddy’s footsteps, Kobby Adu has a successful career in the arts and holds a degree from the University of Connecticut.
Source: Braperucci.Africa
*Editor’s Note: This article of Ghana’s ‘rich kids’ has been edited for clarity, accuracy and updated with new information. No part of this article has been exaggerated or falsely reported.