Keshia Elikem Benson is a skilled governance, risk, and audit expert with over four years of consulting experience across financial services, telecommunications, technology, consumer markets, public sector institutions, and mining. Her career has been marked by her ability to design and implement governance frameworks, conduct complex audits, and advise senior stakeholders with insight and accuracy. She is known for blending technical expertise in audit and risk management with strategic vision and an inclusive leadership style. Currently, Keshia is the Managing Partner at Avela Partners, a women-led management consulting and financial advisory firm based in Accra, Ghana. At Avela, she leads the firm’s mission of empowering women-led enterprises across Africa by improving internal systems, enhancing investment readiness, and linking clients to gender-lens capital. Under her guidance, Avela Partners offers customised consulting, internal audit, accounting, and capacity-building services that help businesses grow sustainably while supporting an inclusive African economy.

Before co-founding Avela Partners, Keshia gained her expertise at KPMG Ghana, where she rose to Senior Associate in the Governance, Risk and Compliance Services (GRCS) unit. In this position, she led various client projects, including reviews of internal controls over financial reporting for major West African banks, governance enhancements for mining firms, and forensic audits for government agencies. She was key in developing internal audit manuals, risk control matrices, governance frameworks, and training resources for both private and public sector clients. Keshia’s consulting work often involved balancing stakeholder management, technical detail, and operational execution, skills she continues to apply in her leadership at Avela Partners. Her early career included roles in strategic marketing and business development with General Electric and Sap Investment Holding, as well as internships in KPMG’s Information Technology Advisory practice. These experiences gave her a strong foundation in both global corporate strategy and local market realities, shaping her comprehensive approach to consulting.

Beyond her professional commitments, Keshia is a dedicated advocate for social impact and community involvement. At KPMG, she co-led Advisory CSR projects such as ICT lab upgrades for schools, soup kitchens for disadvantaged children, and strategic support for local NGOs. She also served on KPMG Ghana’s Mental Health Team, where she introduced awareness campaigns and wellness programmes for staff, earning recognition for her innovation and contribution to community development. A graduate of Ashesi University, where she earned a BSc in Business Administration with Cum Laude honours, Keshia has consistently demonstrated academic excellence, earning a place on the Dean’s List for six consecutive semesters. She is also a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), reflecting her professional commitment to strict financial and governance standards. Keshia Elikem Benson exemplifies a new wave of African women leaders, blending technical expertise, entrepreneurial vision, and social awareness. Through Avela Partners, she not only offers solutions to complex business challenges but also advocates for gender equality, inclusive leadership, and sustainable growth across Africa.

Management Consultant & Business Leader

Keshia Elikem Benson is the Managing Partner of Avela Partners, a women-led management consulting and financial advisory firm based in Accra, Ghana. With a strong background in audit, risk management, and governance, she offers expertise in developing robust systems and guiding organisations towards sustainable growth.

Keshia’s professional career includes leadership roles at KPMG Ghana, where she advised clients in financial services, telecoms, consumer markets, and the public sector. She has overseen governance and compliance reviews, internal audits, and process transformation projects, consistently providing practical solutions to improve resilience and performance.

As a Chartered Accountant (ACCA) and a graduate of Ashesi University (Cum Laude), Keshia combines technical financial expertise with strategic insight. At Avela Partners, she champions women-led businesses across Africa, supporting them with consulting, leadership training, and access to capital to enable them to scale confidently.

She is also passionate about community development, having led corporate social responsibility initiatives, youth mentorship programmes, and pro-bono advisory work for women’s organisations. Her leadership demonstrates a commitment to inclusive economic growth and empowering women entrepreneurs to foster innovation and prosperity across Africa.