Renowned Ghanaian technology expert Herman Kojo Chinery-Hesse, popularly known as the ‘Bill Gates of Africa’, has passed on.
The trailblazing entrepreneur and founder of theSOFTtribe died on Monday, September 16, 2024.
His death is a big blow to the technology industry due to his enormous contribution to Ghana’s digital landscape.
His firm, theSOFTtribe, is one of Ghana’s oldest and largest software companies.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1963, he attended Mfantsipim School in Ghana and Westlake High School in Texas and graduated from Texas State University with a degree in Industrial Technology.
Chinery-Hesse’s impact on Ghana’s tech industry cannot be overstated.
In 1991, he established theSOFTtribe, which introduced groundbreaking solutions such as mobile-based community security systems, government payroll software, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and national utility billing platforms.
Beyond software development, Chinery-Hesse was a passionate advocate for African storytelling.
His ‘African Echoes’ project aimed to produce African audiobooks for global audiences, providing a platform for African voices to share their stories.
A sought-after speaker, Chinery-Hesse shared his insights at renowned institutions like Oxford, Harvard Business School, and Wharton.
He was also a regular feature on global media outlets such as CNN, BBC, and Al Jazeera.