African economies have experienced growth as the continent opens up to the global economic block. Trade in commodities such as agricultural products such and other mineral resources have been key in building these economies.
In recent years however, many economies on the continent have come under increased pressure as from a commodities price route that has characterized the last two years. An economic slowdown in China, the continent’s top trade partner, has fueled the fall in prices further.
Africa’s leading economies including Nigeria, South Africa and Angola have all witnesses slowing growth. The Finance Ministers of these countries are tasked with the key role of turning the fortunes around and ensuring the gains made over the last decade of boom are not wiped out.
Below are the profiles of Finance Ministers in Africa’s 8 leading economies.
Sources: Africa Ranking, Bloomberg, The Economist
She was born on March 9, 1967 in London, United Kingdom. Before her appointment on November 11, last year, she served as Commissioner for Finance in Ogun State from 2011. She is a member of Chartered Accountants in England, Wales and Nigeria. Adeosun was also a Senior Manager at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, in London from 2000-2002. Her appointment was opposed by Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), a watchdog civil group in Nigeria that claimed her dual citizenship disqualified her to be a minister in the country.
He is a South African politician who joined the ruling African National congress (ANC) in 2009, from the Communist Party. Gordhan was on born April 12, 1949. He was re-appointed Finance Minister on December 13, last year to replace David van Rooyen who had only served for four days. Gordhan previously had served in the same docket from May 10, 2009 to May 25, 2014, when he was moved to the Ministry of Cooperative governance and traditional affairs.
He was born on December 1, 1947 in Tonota, a village in the Central District of Botswana. Matambo popularly calls himself ‘Mr. Clean’. He was appointed Minister of Finance and Development Planning in 2009, after heading the Botswana Development Commission (BDC) for more than 10 years. In 2011, he was charged in court for failing to declare his interests in Tuwana Construction, a company that had engaged in business dealings with BDC, when he was heading the parastatal.
He was born on September 26, 1961 in Fez, north-eastern Morocco. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Engineering from the Paris National School of Bridges and Roads. Bousaid was appointed Minister of Finance and Privatization on October 10, 2013. He had previously worked as Minister of Public Sector Modernization in2004 and Minister of Tourism in 2007. He is also a Governor of Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) and The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
He was born on March 24, 1972. Manuel is a politician with the ruling party, People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). He holds a Masters in Economics from London Guidhal University in United Kingdom. Manuel was a lecturer in Agostinho Neto University, Luisada University and Catholic University, in the country. Manuel was appointed Minister of Finance on May 9, 2013.
He was born on July 2, 1949 in Tiaret, central Algeria. Benkhalfa is a politician with the National Liberation Front (NLF). He holds a Doctorate in Management Sciences from the University of Grenoble in Paris, France. He was appointed the Algerian Minister of Finance on May 14, last year.
He was sworn in as Egypt’s Finance Minister in March, 2014. He has held the post in three successive years as the nation continues in its recovery path since the revolution that ousted former president, Hosni Mubarak. Dimian holds a Masters Degree in International Affairs and Economic Policy Management from Columbia University, New York.
He was born in 1969 in Rift Valley, Kenya. Rotich holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Havard University. He worked as an economist with International Monetary Fund (IMF), from 2001 to 2004, at its office in Nairobi, Kenya. Rotich was appointed Minister of Finance on May 15, 2013.