Accra, Ghana – 27 – 28 February 2026
Mr. Harry Anagnostaras-Adams, Executive Chairman of KEFI Gold and Copper PLC, Ethiopia, has been honoured with the Special African Business Leadership Excellence Award at the 15th ALM Persons of the Year Ceremony held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra.
The prestigious recognition celebrates his distinguished leadership in African resource development, cross-border investment strategy and mining sector innovation. Under his stewardship, KEFI Gold and Copper PLC has advanced the development of strategic gold and copper assets across the Arabian-Nubian Shield, particularly the Tulu Kapi Gold Project in Ethiopia and the Hawiah Copper-Gold Project in Saudi Arabia. His leadership has been instrumental in mobilising international capital, strengthening stakeholder partnerships and positioning the company for long-term production and sustainable value creation.
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The Special African Business Leadership Excellence Award recognises visionary corporate leaders whose work drives industrial growth, responsible resource development and economic transformation across Africa. Mr. Anagnostaras-Adams’ career spans over three decades in mining finance and project development, including the co-founding of Citicorp Capital Investors Australia and the creation of multiple resource-focused enterprises. Through Semarang Enterprises Limited, he played a foundational role in the establishment and spin-off of KEFI in 2006, as well as the evolution of Atalaya Mining into a producing company in Spain and the restructuring of Venus Minerals PLC in Cyprus.
Since assuming the role of Executive Chairman in 2015, he has overseen KEFI’s transition from exploration to development readiness, navigating complex regulatory, financing and operational environments in emerging markets. His strategic expertise, backed by an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales, where he graduated top of his class, continues to shape the company’s disciplined approach to capital markets and project execution.
The 15th ALM Persons of the Year Ceremony brought together high-level political leaders, captains of industry, policymakers, diplomats, and development partners from across Africa and beyond. The annual gathering remains a premier platform celebrating excellence in governance, business, public service and institutional leadership across the continent.
Other Distinguished Honourees at the 15th Edition Include:
• Chief Lesi Maol, GMD, Giolee Global Resources Ltd, Nigeria – Community Development Leadership Award
• Mr Samuel Tafesse, Founder, Sunshine Investment Group, Ethiopia – African Philanthropist of the Year
• Rali Mampeule, Founder/CEO, South African Housing & Infrastructure Fund – Special African Philanthropist Icon Award
• Dr Helen Oritsejafor, Executive Chairman, Spring Sky Finance Company Limited, Nigeria – Special African Leadership Commendation Award
• First Bank of Nigeria – African Leadership Institutional Excellence Award
• African World Airlines – Africa’s Leading Global Connector
• DCG Isah Umar Gusau (Rtd), Deputy CG, Nigeria Customs Service – Distinguished Public Service Award
• Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor, Makerere University, Uganda – African Educationist of the Year
• Abdoul Karim Diallo, Director General, Société Nouvelle de Commerce S.A. (SONOCO Group), Guinea – African Leadership Excellence Award in Industrial Innovation & Economic Development
• General Abdelkérim Charfadine “Bèguera”, Director-General, National Mining and Marketing Company (SONEMIC), Chad – Special Africa Leadership Impact Award
• Mr Alexandre Carreira, Chief Executive Officer, Nova Sociedade de Seguros de Angola, S.A (NOSSA Seguros), Angola – Distinguished African Leadership Award in Insurance Innovation and Financial Excellence
• H.E. Austelino Tavares Correia – African Lawmaker of the Year
• Saxton Ghana Limited – Africa’s Media Innovation Partner
• Ms Djalila Abdourahim, Director General, Chadian Hydrocarbons Company (SHT), Chad – African Hydrocarbons Sector Institutional Leadership & Sustainable Energy Development Excellence Award
• Mr Sakir Yavuz, Founder & President, ATAFOM University International, Central African Republic – African Leadership Impact Excellence Award
• Prof Ntobeko Ntusi, President & Chief Executive Officer, South African Medical Research Council – African Public Health Special Leadership Commendation
• Mr Khulekani Mathe, Chief Executive Officer, Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) – African Leadership Award for Excellence in Economic Policy & Private Sector Advocacy
• Dr Kelly Oluoch, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) – African Health & Institutional Development Leadership Excellence Award
• Dr Dinesh Shukla, Chancellor and Founder President, American International University West Africa (AIU), Gambia – African Education Leadership Award
• Dr Philip Oti-Mensah, Managing Director, UMB Bank Ghana – Special African Banking Leadership Commendation Award & Digital Bank of the Year (Ghana)
• Madame Paule Avomo Assoumou Koki, Director General, Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) – Special African Aviation Regulatory Leadership Impact Award
• Dr Bruno Linyiru, OGW, Director General, Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) – African Regulatory Leadership Excellence Award (Agricultural Sector Development)
• Eng. Luka Kimeli, Director-General, Kenya National Highways Authority – African Regulatory Leadership Excellence Award (Transport Corridors & Infrastructure Development)
• General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Chief of Defence Forces, Uganda People’s Defence Forces – Special African Leadership Award for Defence & National Security Excellence
• Debele Kabeta, Commissioner, Ethiopian Customs Commission – African Public Sector Leader of the Year
• Charles Anosike, DG/CEO, Nigeria Meteorological Agency – African Public Sector Leader of the Year
• Eku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, Minister of Finance, Sierra Leone – African Government Minister of the Year
• Kenneth Matiba, MBS, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Institute of Supplies Management – African Regulatory Leadership Excellence Award (Public Procurement Integrity & Governance)
• Her Excellency Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah – African Political Leader of the Year
• Her Excellency Esperança da Costa, Vice President of Angola – African Female Leader of the Year
• Prof Babagana Zulum, Governor of Borno State, Nigeria – African Public Service Excellence Award
• John Kufuor, Former President of Ghana
• His Excellency The Right Honourable Samuel Matekane, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho – African Inspirational Leadership & Good Governance Impact Award
• His Excellency Dr John Mahama, President of Ghana – African of the Year
The ceremony featured keynote addresses, award presentations and strategic networking engagements aimed at strengthening cross-border collaboration and leadership impact across Africa.
About ALM Persons of the Year
The ALM Persons of the Year Ceremony is an annual flagship event dedicated to recognising exceptional African leaders and institutions whose work has made significant contributions to governance, economic development, innovation and social transformation across the continent. Over the years, the platform has honoured Presidents, Prime Ministers, policymakers, business leaders and change-makers committed to advancing Africa’s progress on the global stage.
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King Richard
editor@africanleadership.co.uk
