Sam Jonah appointed AFA advisory board chair to drive mineral beneficiation in Africa

The Africans for Africa (AFA) Initiative has appointed Sam Jonah as chairman of its advisory board, tasking him with oversight of governance, investment direction, and stakeholder engagement for the Africans for Africa Fund.

The fund is designed to mobilise African capital for mineral development, with a focus on project financing and downstream beneficiation across the continent.

In a statement, the organisation said the appointment places Jonah, executive chairman of Jonah Capital, at the head of its advisory structure as it seeks to close funding gaps in the mining sector by pooling regional capital and expertise.

The initiative added that the advisory board will provide strategic guidance on investment decisions targeting indigenous mining projects and processing activities, aimed at increasing domestic value retention in Africa’s extractive industry.

Jonah previously served as chief executive officer of Ashanti Goldfields, where he led its expansion from a single mine operator into a multinational producer.

In 1996, Ashanti became the first operating African company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under his leadership. Following its 2004 merger with AngloGold Ashanti, he served as executive president of the combined group.

He currently chairs Jonah Capital, with investments spanning mining, financial services and agriculture across Africa. His board experience includes roles with Vodafone Group, Standard Bank Group and the Bank of America Global Advisory Council.

Other members of the Africans for Africa advisory board include Kwasi Kwarteng; Segun Lawson, chief executive officer of Thor Explorations Plc; Osam Iyahen, senior director investments at Africa Finance Corporation; and Zenzi Awases, president of Women in Mining Africa, alongside professionals drawn from finance, law and public policy.