Herman Chinery-Hesse: The Elder Statesman of African Technology and Innovation Herman Chinery-Hesse was born on November 18, 1963, in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, into a distinguished Ghanaian family with a strong legacy of public service. His father, Lebrecht James Chinery-Hesse, was a prominent legal draftsman, and his mother, Mary Akuokor Chinery-Hesse (née Blay), was a seasoned diplomat and the first woman to attain the rank of Under Secretary General in the history of the United Nations. She was also the first woman chancellor of the University of Ghana. Growing up in such an intellectually enriched environment instilled values of leadership and service which would come to define Herman's legacy as one of Africa's pioneering tech entrepreneurs. Raised in Ghana, Herman's early years were spent in the care of his extended family in Jamestown, where he developed a deep connection to his heritage.
After beginning his education at Ridge Church School, he later attended Mfantsipim School, where he built the foundation for his eventual journey into technology and entrepreneurship. In 1982, Herman moved to the United States, where he attended Westlake High School in Texas.
He subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from Texas State University.
His time in the US exposed him to new ideas and the potential for technology to transform economies. He left the US and spent a year in the UK before ultimately making the bold decision to return to Ghana, with a vision to harness technology for African businesses.