Former President and leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has paid tribute to Herman Kojo Chinery-Hesse, the pioneering Ghanaian tech entrepreneur and founder of SOFTtribe, who passed away on Monday, 16 September 2024, due to cardiac arrest.

In a post on X, Mr. Mahama expressed his deep sorrow at the loss of a friend and visionary, describing the impact Mr. Chinery-Hesse had on Ghana’s tech industry.

“We’ve lost a good man. I’ve lost a friend. This is a great blow to Ghana and our IT fraternity. We must be inspired to produce a million more Hermans. Rest in peace, Herman,” Mr. Mahama wrote.

He left behind a remarkable legacy as one of Africa’s leading figures in technology and innovation.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1963, Mr. Chinery-Hesse was widely regarded as “the Bill Gates of Africa” for his transformative contributions to the tech industry.

In 1991, he founded the SOFTtribe, Ghana’s oldest and largest software company, which played a key role in driving the nation’s technological advancement.

Under his visionary leadership, the SOFTtribe introduced groundbreaking solutions, including mobile-based community security systems, government payroll platforms, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and national utility billing platforms.These innovations significantly shaped Ghana’s digital landscape.

Mr. Chinery-Hesse’s influence reached far beyond software development.

He launched “African Echoes,” a project dedicated to producing African audiobooks for a global audience, amplifying African voices and stories on the international stage.

Mr. Chinery-Hesse also served as an assessor for the Commercial Courts of Ghana, contributing to the country’s legal and economic progress.

Educated at Mfantsipim School in Ghana, Westlake High School in Texas, and Texas State University, where he earned a degree in Industrial Technology, Chinery-Hesse was a highly respected figure in the tech community.

He became a sought-after speaker at world-renowned institutions like Oxford, Harvard Business School, and Wharton, and was frequently featured in global media outlets such as CNN, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

A TED Fellow, Mr. Chinery-Hesse’s impact on the global tech world was profound, leaving an indelible mark on Ghana, Africa, and beyond.

His legacy as a trailblazer in African innovation and technology will continue to inspire future generations