Akua Gyekye

Board Member

Akua Gyekye

Head of Government Affairs Africa

Microsoft

Akua Gyekye is Microsoft’s Head of Government Affairs for Africa, responsible for shaping the company’s public policy agenda and leading a team of policy professionals across the continent. Her team focuses on critical issues such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data privacy, cybersecurity, digital safety and integrity, and international trade. They work closely with governments, civil society, and industry leaders to help shape inclusive and future-focused technology policy across Africa. 

She brings more than 20 years of cross-sector experience in public policy, technology, law, finance, and international development, with a career that spans the private sector, multilateral institutions, and government affairs. She joined Microsoft from WhatsApp, where she led public policy and government affairs across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and before that spearheaded election integrity and digital connectivity efforts at Meta in Africa. Earlier in her career, Akua served as a legal advisor in Liberia and Nigeria for the World Bank, IFC, and USAID, and practiced as a project finance lawyer at Clifford Chance.

Akua holds an LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from The George Washington University Law School, a Law Degree from Cambridge University, and a BA in Law and Society from American University. Akua is admitted to practice law in both New York and the UK, is fluent in English and German, and currently lives in Nairobi with her husband.