The appointments were announced in State Order No. 60/2026, signed by the governor on 14 July 2026.
Under the order, Ahmed Musa Dehia has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Authority, while Michael James Akol will serve as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer.
The governor also named James Charles Ugoro as Secretary of the Investment Authority, with Nargis Joseph Mbimbi appointed Director of Administration and Finance. She will be deputized by Jacob Elia Suleiman Uhuru, who assumes the role of Deputy Director of Administration and Finance.
Other appointments include Lula Rabeh as Director of Public Relations, Clement Anthony Telasfur as Director of Registration and Evaluation, Adella Aldo Udo as Director of Information, Publications and Mass Media Unit, and Joseph Manut Manyuat Longar as Investment Officer.
The gubernatorial order states that the appointments take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.
To ensure the implementation of the directive, the governor tasked the State Ministry of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development together with the State Ministry of Finance, Planning and Investment with putting the order into effect.
The establishment of the new executive body is expected to provide leadership for the Investment Authority as it carries out its mandate of promoting investment opportunities, coordinating investor engagement and supporting economic development initiatives across Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
Although the order does not specify the immediate priorities for the newly appointed officials, the appointments come as state authorities continue efforts to improve the institutional framework for attracting both domestic and foreign investment.
Investment authorities play a key role in facilitating business registration, evaluating investment proposals, promoting public-private partnerships and creating an enabling environment for economic growth. Effective leadership within such institutions is often viewed as essential to boosting investor confidence and supporting job creation.
The latest appointments form part of a series of administrative changes made by Governor Sharif in recent months as his administration seeks to strengthen public institutions and improve service delivery across the state.
