Albert Nana - an entrepreneurial profile with local and international ambitions

Following this redundancy, his initial contact with Business Link referred him to Construction Leeds for help and support to start and grow his own project management consultancy business.     

Albert graduated through Leeds University and holds a first degree and a masters in Civil Engineering supported by front line project management experience leading both civil and highways projects to the value £15m. Templeborough to Rotherham flood alleviation scheme and the design and build of Heron’s Foods head office and distribution centre in Hull has given Albert an impressive portfolio of project successes.   

In starting his consulting business, Albert took his first step forward by linking up with ex colleagues at Leeds University, one in particular a close friend and a Chinese national who had joined CMEC, a Chinese state owned company ranked eighth in the world engaged in major EPC contracting processes.  CMEC had already delivered sizeable process and power plant engineering projects in Africa and its strategic goal was to deliver more PFI projects in the region.    

Through his contacts in Ghana, Albert successfully established a relationship at board level with the Volta River Authority (VRA) an electric power utility corporation, owned by the Ghanaian government, who had several major power projects including a 300MW thermal plant at Aboadze near Sekondi-Takoradi.   

Through his contacts with CMEC and VRA, Albert brought the two organisations together resulting in a joint visit to Ghana in March 2010 where senior managers from both sides discussed current projects and opportunities.    

The result…  Albert is currently leading a team of CMEC and VRA engineers and managers in the negotiation to repackage the $203 million Kpone thermal power plant under a new government of Ghana PFI scheme.  

Adding value to this project and targeting the local community and workforce in Ghana with UK training initiatives were seen as a critical programme prior to starting the project.  To meet this requirement and to take the training and community initiatives forward at a pace, Albert is currently designing a range of ‘bespoke’ project management training programmes incorporating a unique blend of knowledge, practical experience and implementation skills.    

Construction Leeds has played key role in supporting Albert’s activities from business start up through to supporting his local and international development activities, proving ‘sharing the success’ under the LEGI programme can start with the local communities in and around Leeds and influence the ‘social’ development of other communities, worldwide.