To empower leaders, executives, and institutions with real-life insights on ethical leadership, self-mastery, and resilient governance - using personal experience, and reform as tools for impactful change.
To redefine leadership in Africa and beyond - with truth, trust, and transformation at the core.
“Real Leadership. Real Lessons. Real Results.”
Daniel Duku is a Ghanaian-American business executive, financial strategist, and public speaker with over 30 years of experience across global finance, public sector leadership, and institutional reform. He is widely recognized for his role in shaping Ghana’s venture capital landscape and for his executive contributions in the United States, particularly at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and Merrill Lynch.
Duku served as Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s Venture Capital Trust Fund from 2010 to 2015, where he led transformative initiatives that expanded SME financing, promoted impact investing, and positioned Ghana as a regional hub for venture capital. He is currently the Chairman of Georgetown Group, where he leads governance strategy and cross-border business development.
Following public controversy during his time in government, Daniel Duku has become an outspoken advocate for ethical leadership, governance accountability, and redemptive transformation. Through keynote speaking, advisory services, and mentorship, he now uses his personal and professional journey to equip leaders and boards across Africa and the diaspora.
Daniel Duku was born in Ghana and pursued his higher education in the United States and the United Kingdom. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Charleston (1979–1983), where he was a recipient of the Foundation Scholarship. He later obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in International Management from Oxford University, Brasenose College (1992), and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business (1993), where he earned both merit-based and minority-based scholarships.
He has also undertaken professional training in Private Equity and Venture Capital at London Business School and completed the 3-Day MBA in Private Equity in Dubai.
Duku began his career as a Private Banking Manager at Merrill Lynch, managing investment portfolios for high-net-worth individuals. He secured over $30 million in new accounts from Nigerian and Cameroonian clients and consistently surpassed return targets.
He progressed from Financial Analyst to Senior Financial Analyst at OPIC, the U.S. government’s development finance institution. He led transactions in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, including:
As Principal Consultant, he managed strategic consulting projects, including the privatization of 180+ state-owned enterprises and developing an efficiency plan for Obuasi Gold Fields.
As CEO of this management consultancy firm, Duku grew the client base from 12 to 70 and facilitated GH¢30 million in SME fundraising.
Duku served as Senior Consultant at GIPC, where he:
Appointed as CEO of Ghana’s Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF), Duku spearheaded several impactful initiatives:
He also championed ESG reporting frameworks and secured an additional GH¢25 million in government funding to sustain the Fund’s mandate.
As Chairman of Georgetown Group, Daniel Duku provides strategic leadership to the board, oversees governance frameworks, and guides domestic and international expansion efforts.
Daniel Duku has participated in and spoken at major global forums including:
During his career in public service, Duku faced legal accusations that affected his public image. In the years following, he has focused on ethical reflection, personal accountability, and leadership restoration. Today, he is a strong advocate for redemptive leadership, board reform, and personal reinvention, using his journey as a teaching tool for others in business, public service, and executive leadership.
Daniel Duku is passionate about reading, faith leadership, travel, and entrepreneurship. He actively serves in church leadership roles and is committed to mentoring the next generation of African leaders.
