The Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GiTFiC) has named Professor Deodat E. Adenutsi as its new Director of Education for Africa, a move aimed at strengthening the organisation’s role in shaping trade and finance education under the African Continental Free Trade Area. The announcement was made in Accra on February 16, marking what GITFiC officials describe as a strategic step in advancing research-backed dialogue and capacity building across African economies.
Professor Adenutsi brings more than two decades of academic and professional experience to the role, having spent over 25 years teaching and researching economics, development finance and public policy. He holds a PhD in Development Finance from the University of Stellenbosch and has served as a Visiting Scholar at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC. Over the years, he has worked closely with governments, financial institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises and civil society groups, delivering training and advisory programmes across several African countries. His research output spans digital finance, corporate governance, international economics and macroeconomic policy, with publications in internationally indexed journals.
In his new position, Professor Adenutsi is expected to lead the design and rollout of GITFiC’s AfCFTA-focused educational agenda, aligned with the organisation’s long-term Agenda 2031 framework. This includes overseeing executive training programmes, policy research initiatives, academic partnerships and professional development modules intended to support the practical implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. He will also supervise the expansion of a specialised AfCFTA curriculum already being piloted in selected African universities, ensuring academic rigor and relevance across all training platforms.
GITFiC says the appointment comes at a critical time, as African governments and businesses seek deeper understanding of trade facilitation, financial innovation and digital commerce within the continent’s single market framework. Under Professor Adenutsi’s leadership, the organisation plans to scale up its AfCFTA Executive Education Programme, strengthen collaboration with regional and international trade bodies, and reinforce its position as a thought leader on economic integration.
Founded to promote policy dialogue and evidence-based solutions in trade and finance, GITFiC has spent the past seven years championing AfCFTA implementation support initiatives. The organisation says the new appointment signals a renewed commitment to excellence in education and capacity development, with the broader goal of supporting sustainable economic growth across Africa.