Elizabeth Obese (FCCA) is the Director of Finance of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, and President of the Daniel Ntow Obese Foundation (DNOF). She is an accomplished finance professional dedicated to financial stewardship in the academic and philanthropic sectors. She holds a Master's degree in Human Resources Management from the University of Cape Coast and is a Fellow of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA), United Kingdom.
As a Director of Finance, she has general responsibility for the administration of the financial affairs of the University with keen interest in regulatory compliance and accountability. Her role includes financial planning, budget management, investment analysis, and maintaining financial integrity as a liaison officer during engagements with External Auditors for financial audits. Mrs. Obese, through the management of the University of Cape Coast, has developed robust accounting policies, managed budgets, and ensured value for money in expenditures. She has authored a number of memoranda that have been implemented by University Management and impacted positively on the lives of staff and students as well as the University. Notable among these are the establishment of the Student Financial Support Office, which provides financial support to brilliant and promising students but needy students at the University of Cape Coast; the creation of a Staff Health Fund to complement the healthcare support given by the University, and the creation of a Contingency Fund for the University. Mrs. Obese has served and continues to serve on a number of University Committees and Boards such as the Finance, Development, Entity Tender, Audit, Planning & Resource, Training & Development, and Student Financial Support Committees, and the Ghana Universities Staff Superannuation Scheme and Directorate of Rescarch, Innovation, and Consultancy Boards. She was a Facilitator of the Senior Academic Leadership Training (SALT) programme organised by the then National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), now Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), in collaboration with the Carnegie Foundation, United States of America.
She has participated in a number of workshops and conferences (both local and international) to build capacity as well as to keep abreast with best practices regarding the finance function in higher education. Her technical skills include budgeting, treasury management, and financial reporting. She also exhibits leadership, communication, detail-orientedness, adaptability, problem-solving, teamwork, time management, and interpersonal skills.
As the President of the DNO Foundation, she provides strategic direction and oversees operations of the Foundation with regard to the development and implementation of initiatives to address community needs such as education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation. She also sees to the organisation of fundraising events and campaigns to secure funding for the foundation's projects and other roles, such as establishing partnerships with other organisations to maximise impact and resources.
She is a staunch Presbyterian and currently worships at the Unity Congregation of the Church at Nkanfoa, Cape Coast, in the Central Region of Ghana. She has held various leadership positions in the Church, notably former Western Presbytery Women representative to the
General Assembly Council (GAC) of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. While serving on the GAC, she advocated for women's representation on all committees at the various courts of the church and served on a number of Ad hoc Committees of the GAC. She also facilitates opportunities for women to grow spiritually through Bible studies, prayer meetings, and retreats. Mrs. Obese creates a supportive environment where women can connect, share experiences, and receive encouragement in the Church and the broader community. She is passionate about empowering children, youth, and women to discover and utilise their talents for the betterment of the church and society and promoting gender equality and inclusion.
She is compassionate, empathetic, visionary, and strategic thinker. She is passionate about reading medical articles, mentoring, participating in charitable events, and volunteering. She is also a great lover of hymns.
Mrs. Obese's short-term goals are to enhance financial transparency and reporting processes in the University and expand the outreach programmes for the DNO Foundation. Her long-term goals are to foster sustainable financial growth for the University and the Foundation and empower children, youth, and women through educational initiatives and mentorship programmes.
