Executive Committee (EXECOM)
COMMISSIONER GENERAL
Dr Emmanuel Wekem Kotia is a Major General of the Ghana Armed Forces. He has served honourably with the military colours for 40 years. He has distinguished himself as an international analyst and expert in Defence and Security over the years. He is an astute lecturer and speaker at various national and international forums on topics related international/national security, international politics and defence studies. General Kotia is the founding Commissioner General of the Ghana Boundary Commission since 2019. His immediate past appointment before then was Commander of the Western Sector of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2018 to 2019. He had previously served as the Deputy Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Ghana from 2015 to 2018. By way of academic qualifications, he holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (First Class Honours) in Political Science from the University of Ghana, Master of Science Degree (MSc) in Global Security from the Cranfield University of the United Kingdom; and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science from the University of Ghana. He was appointed a Clinical Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the Kennesaw State University, USA in 2013. He delivered a three-credit course for students of the PhD and Master’s Courses in International Conflict Management at the Kennesaw State University from 2013 to 2017. He was also appointed a Visiting Lecturer of University of Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom in 2014 to 2018 where he taught a three-credit course in peace and security for the International Relations post graduate course.
DIRECTOR – BOUNDARY OPERATIONS
Colonel Henry BADASU is a Senior Army Officer of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Director of Boundary Operations at the Ghana Boundary Commission. He has led his team to undertake various operational exercises and boundary pillar assessments along Ghana’s international land boundaries. Col Badasu has extensive experience in UN peacekeeping operations in Africa and continuously demonstrates a solid understanding of risk, crisis, and security management. He has been decorated for his hard work and dedication on missions such as UNAMSIL, UNIFIL, MONUC, UNOCI and UNMISS. Colonel Badasu has held various strategic, tactical, and operational positions in the Ghana Armed Forces some of which include, Chief Operations Officer, ECOMIG Force Headquarters in Bakau, Gambia, Deputy Director Army Peacekeeping Operations, Army Headquarters, Accra, Ghana, Military Assistant to Force Commander, Force Headquarters, United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Additionally, Col Badasu has volunteered in various peace operations missions and crisis management operations in South Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire, and Accra. Colonel Badasu is a graduate of the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon, where he earned an MA in Defense, Conflict, and Security. In addition, he completed the War College’s Strategic Level Leadership and Management program and has further participated in various courses commensurate to his rank, both home and abroad, which have earned him a number of professional certificates and diplomas. He is fluent in English and French.
DIRECTOR – SURVEY AND DELIMITATION
Mr. Herbert DJABA is the Director of the Ghana Boundary Commission’s Department of Survey and Delimitation. Mr. Djaba leads the survey of existing boundary lines which results in the production of maps and orthophotos of these boundary lines. He also actively participates in maritime boundary activities. He is a photogrammetric, geoinformatics, and geodetic engineer; a GIS expert; a professional member of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (834); and a licensed surveyor (294), certified by the Ghana Lands Commission. Herbert holds an MSc in Photogrammetry and Geoinformatics from the University of Applied Science (Hochschule für Technik (HFT) in Stuttgart, Germany, a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems from International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation in the Netherlands, a BSc (Hons) in Geodetic Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana, and a Diploma in Theology from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Saltpond, Ghana. Herbert has specialised in collecting, processing, and mapping geospatial data for dispute resolution, engineering, GIS, mining, oil and gas, cadastre, and agriculture. He has served as an instructor to many professionals in modern surveying methods and imparted know-how to other surveyors across engineering, mining, and national mapping agencies in Sweden, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, among others. Mr. Djaba can run the entire photogrammetric mapping process using traditional aircraft or more recent mapping and surveillance drones. He is well-versed in geospatial technologies for 2D and 3D analysis, ensuring interoperability, geoprocessing, and modelling in a variety of industries.
DIRECTOR – POLICY, PLANS AND PROGRAMMES
Mrs. Sarah Okaebea EKUBAN is the Director for Policy, Plans and Programmes (PPP) at the Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC). With this role, Sarah is responsible among other things for coordinating and overseeing the development, management and implementation of strategic documents including plans, policies and programmes for the Commission and leading the Commission’s engagements with relevant stakeholders whose inputs are relevant to achieving the Commission’s mandate. Mrs. Ekuban holds a Master of Arts in International Affairs degree (African Studies option) from the Ohio University, Athens, USA, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (Graphic Design Option) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. She has over the years served in managerial and leadership positions with different local and international organizations/firms within the peace and security as well as advertising and communication sectors. Sarah previously served in research, training, planning, coordination and evaluation capacities at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and headed the Design and Production Unit at the Centre where she spearheaded and facilitated a number of strategic communication efforts to enhance the Centre’s visibility. Mrs Ekuban has published a number of articles on contemporary and emerging peace and security issues and served as lead and facilitator on a number of Border Security Management, Small Arms and Light Weapons, Transnational Organised Crimes and other conflict, peace, and security programmes/courses. Sarah’s clarity of vision, passion, commitment and originality has contributed immensely to the success of the department’s activities and that of the Commission.
DIRECTOR – RESEARCH
Mr. John Elikem TSOTORVOR is the Director of Research at the Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC). John’s experience spans over eighteen (18) years in the field of Development and has spent over a decade working in the Peace and Security arena. John has extensive knowledge, practice and skills in Project Management having worked between 2013 and 2022 with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC). His work at the KAIPTC encompassed Monitoring and Evaluation, Planning and engaging with Partners. He has liaised closely with relevant agencies within the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on issues of Peace and Security. John has participated in several Peace and Security courses and seminars both locally and internationally. He also has a rich background in Community Development having worked on several projects in deprived communities in the Central, Greater Accra and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana. Mr. Tsotorvor is passionate about research and has played research roles at different levels. As Director of Research, he oversees and coordinates all research activities of the Commission including providing technical and administrative leadership in research for the achievement of the Commission’s objectives, formulation of research themes and supervising the development and publication of literature related to boundaries. As the Director for Research, John has led his team to undertake several human security research in various border communities of Ghana, leading to actionable recommendations and development initiatives/projects.
DIRECTOR – ADMINISTRATION
Mrs. Patricia Dzifa MENSAH-LARKAI is the Director, Administration at the Ghana Boundary Commission, coordinating and supervising the Administration and Human Resource needs of the Commission. Patricia is an astute Administration and Human Resource Practitioner with a demonstrated wealth of experience in managing and building Teams in both governmental and multinational work cultures. Mrs. Mensah-Larkai holds an Executive MBA in Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Ghana Business School, a BA (Hons) degree in Management and Sociology from the University of Ghana – Legon, a Diploma in French Language from the Alliance Française d’Accra and other certification programmes/short courses in her field. She is an affiliate member of the Chartered Institute of Human Resources Managers (CIHRM Ghana) and the Institute of Public Relations Ghana. As a leadership advocate, especially for women and girls, she became the First Female Distinguished Toastmaster in Ghana, empowering several men and women to sharpen their public speaking and leadership skills. Her strengths include strategic leadership, general office administration, human resource planning, performance management and policy drive & implementation to achieve the objectives of the organisation.