Six things you (probably) didn’t know about Herman Chinery-Hesse
Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1963 to Lebrecht James Nii Tettey Chinery-Hesse and Mary Chinery-Hesse, became a household name for the tech community in Ghana and beyond
The tech community in Ghana and beyond are still grappling to come to terms with the death of tech giant Herman Chinery-Hesse.
Described as the ”Bill Gate of Africa”, Chinery-Hesse died on Monday (16 September) after a short illness.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1963 to Lebrecht James Nii Tettey Chinery-Hesse and Mary Chinery-Hesse, he became a household name for the tech community in Ghana and beyond.
He attended Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast, Ghana, Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, and Texas State University in San Marcos.
Chinery-Hesse is survived by his wife, Sadia, a corporate lawyer and two children, Nii Tetteh and Naa Densua.
Below are six things you probably did not know about the Ghanaian techpreneur:
- Founder of theSOFTtribe
He founded the SOFTtribe in 1991, which has grown to become one of the best-known software houses in West Africa.
He started writing software in a bedroom in his parents’ home, at a time when not many people were aware of the potential impact of the computer revolution in Africa.
Under his leadership, the company has pioneered several groundbreaking products, including mobile-based community security systems, government payroll systems, ERP solutions, and nationwide utility billing systems.
Educated at Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast, Ghana, Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, and Texas State University in San Marcos, Chinery-Hesse co-founded theSOFTtribe in 1991.
Part of his company’s success is no doubt also due to the fact that from very early on they decided to develop software tailored to conditions in Africa.
2. TED fellow
A TED fellow and a frequent presence in the international media, including CNN, the BBC and Al Jazeera, Chinery-Hesse established a track record marked by dedication to advancing technology in Africa.
His work has left an indelible mark on the tech industry, inspiring future generations of innovators.
3. Spearheaded African echoes
He spearheaded “African Echoes,” a project aimed at producing African audio books for a global audience, empowering African voices to tell their stories on the international stage.
He also served as an assessor for the commercial courts of Ghana, further contributing to the nation’s growth.
4. Sought after speaker
He was a sought-after speaker at prestigious institutions like Oxford, Harvard Business School, and Wharton, and was frequently featured in media outlets such as CNN, BBC, and Al Jazeera.
5. Recognised by google
Chinery-Hesse was recently recognised by Google after the tech giant named one of its meeting rooms after him in honour of his contributions in the tech space. Herman Kojo Chinery-Hesse had been working and living in Sierra Leone for several years.
6. Listed among 20 notable black innovators in technology
He was named one of “20 Notable Black Innovators in Technology”, one of Africa’s “Top 20 Tech Influencers”, among the “Top 100 Most Influential Africans of our Time”, and one of the “Top 100 Global Thinkers” by Foreign Policy Magazine.
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