The Chief Executive Officer of Star Assurance Limited, Boatemaa Barfour-Awuah, has been formally inducted as the 12th President of the Ghana Insurers Association (GIA), marking a new chapter in the leadership of the country’s insurance industry.
The induction ceremony was held at the Labadi Beach Hotel on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, and brought together senior government officials, regulators, industry leaders and past executives of the Association.
The event was attended by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Honourable Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, representing the Chief of Staff, the Minister of Finance represented by Mr David Morgan, the Deputy Commissioner of Insurance, Mr Dan O’Neil Rogers, and members of the outgoing GIA Board led by its immediate past President, Mr Seth Kobla Aklatsi.
The Chief Executive Officer of State Insurance Commission, James Agyenim Boateng, former presidents of the Association, past commissioners of insurance and key public sector stakeholders were also present.
In her acceptance speech, Mrs Barfour-Awuah described her induction as more than a routine change in leadership, framing it instead as a renewal of responsibility and purpose.
“Today is not only a change of leaders, but also a change of leadership. It is a renewal of responsibility, and I accept this mandate with humility and with resolve. This tenure will be judged by the outcomes. Trust restored, protection expanded, and a stronger voice can be the best national mandate.”
Chief Executive Officer of Star Assurance Limited, and President of Ghana Insurers Association, Boatemaa Barfour-Awuah
She expressed gratitude to members of the Association for the confidence reposed in her and paid tribute to the leadership of her predecessor and former presidents, whose collective efforts, she noted, had shaped the GIA into a respected industry body.
Task Requires Continuity and Collaboration
According to her, the task ahead would require continuity, candour, and collaboration, anchored in accountability and results. Mrs Barfour-Awuah acknowledged the role of mentors and colleagues who had influenced her leadership journey, singling out Mr Francis Kwabena Addison, one of the longest serving chief executives in the insurance sector.
She credited his support and persistent questioning with sharpening her focus and strengthening her resolve. “While he supported my candidature, he never stopped posing the tough questions, and I am better for it,” she said, describing mentorship as a discipline that must be embraced rather than resisted.
She also referenced the competitive nature of the election that brought her to office, noting that the contest elevated the quality of debate within the Association and compelled deeper reflection on the future direction of the GIA.
“A very competitive but constructive contest strengthens leadership and sharpens purpose,” she said, paying glowing tribute to her main contender. Reflecting on her professional roots, Mrs Baffour-Awuah spoke of her long-standing relationship with Star Assurance, where she has spent more than two decades.
She described her leadership philosophy as one shaped by challenge, correction and trust, observing that leadership growth often comes through accountability imposed by others long before one seeks responsibility.
She paid personal tribute to her father, Dr Kwabena Duffour, whom she described as her first mentor. According to her, his insistence on grounding exposure in purpose continues to guide her approach to leadership and service.
“You reminded me that exposure must become purpose, and the purpose must return home,” she recalled, describing the lesson as one she intends to carry into her presidency.
Mrs Barfour-Awuah also acknowledged the support of colleagues and friends who contributed to her development, including senior figures in academia and corporate governance who, she said, helped establish systems where accountability and rigorous training are demanded.
Alignment of Discipline, Strategy, and People-Centred Leadership
She emphasised that institutions thrive when discipline, strategy, and people-centred leadership are aligned. A notable moment in her address was her recognition of her twin, Mrs Boatemaa Kakra Duffuor Nyarko, Chief Executive Officer of StarLife Assurance and a member of the newly elected GIA Board.
She described their shared leadership journey as one defined by mutual counsel, resilience and a shared commitment to excellence within the insurance industry. “Sharing similar challenges has allowed us to lean on each other for strength and perspective,” she said, pledging to bring the same discipline and integrity into her work at the Association.
Mrs Baffour-Awuah concluded her remarks by thanking her family, including her husband, mother, siblings and extended family, for their support and patience, describing their encouragement as a quiet but essential foundation for public leadership.
GIA at a Crossroad
Her induction follows her election as President of the GIA at the Association’s 16th Annual General Assembly held last week at the Royal Senchi Resort Hotel in the Eastern Region.
The election, which was actively contested by chief executives and managing directors of insurance and reinsurance companies, resulted in Mrs Barfour-Awuah securing a two-year mandate, with eligibility to seek re-election for a further term.
She succeeds Mr Seth Kobla Aklatsi, Chief Executive of Ghana Reinsurance Limited, who served as President of the Association for four years. Her campaign was built around a three point agenda focused on repositioning, reinforcing and repurposing the GIA to enhance trust, respect and influence among regulators, policy makers, member companies and the insuring public.
Alongside the new President, an eight member Board of Directors was elected to steer the affairs of the Association. The non life insurance representatives on the Board are Mrs Akosua Ansah Antwi of Enterprise Insurance, Mr Daniel Boi Addo of Hollard General, Mr Ernest Frimpong of Bedrock Insurance and Mrs Mercy Naa Koshie Boampong of Serene Insurance.
The life insurance members are Mrs Maame Dufie Archampong Kyei Obeng of GLICO Life, Mr Sheriff Abudu of Impact Life, Mrs Kakra Duffuor Nyarko of StarLife and Mr Eric Ato Botchway of Pinnacle Life.
With a renewed leadership team in place, expectations within the industry are high that the Association will strengthen its advocacy role, deepen stakeholder engagement and enhance public confidence in insurance.
For Mrs Barfour-Awuah, the challenge ahead is clear. As she noted in closing, leadership will not be measured by words alone, but by outcomes that restore trust, expand protection and secure the relevance of insurance in Ghana’s evolving economy.
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