Douglas Boateng Awarded Supply Chain Lifetime Achievement by IMM Institute

Professor Douglas Boateng has been named the 2026 recipient of the IMM Institute Supply Chain Lifetime Achievement Award, making him only the second person to earn the honour since the Institute began in 1948. The announcement, made on 29 September 2026, came via a joint statement from Accra and Johannesburg. As Africa's first Professor Extraordinaire in Supply Chain Management, Boateng's career spans nearly thirty years across industry, academia, policy and professional leadership. Irene Gregory, CEO of the IMM Institute, praised Boateng for elevating supply chain management across the continent. She highlighted his role in shaping professional standards, guiding institutions and influencing policy that benefit practitioners everywhere.

Boateng accepted the award with "profound humility and gratitude," pledging to keep transferring knowledge and mentoring emerging talent. He stressed that Africa's industrial future depends on integrated supply chains capable of linking minerals, agriculture, manufacturing, technology and finance into cohesive value chains. According to Boateng, stronger regional chains are essential to unlock AfCFTA benefits and fulfill Agenda 2063's vision. He argued that decisions about sourcing, logistics and investment directly affect where production occurs and how many jobs are created.

The award arrives amid shifting global supply chains shaped by geopolitical tension, technology advances and investment competition. Boateng urged African nations to move beyond simple cross‑border trade and focus on real regional networks that turn raw resources into finished goods and employment. He called for a practical architecture that connects resources, industries and markets.

Industry observers note increasing demand for expertise in resilient supply chains. Recent reports show firms are tightening ethics and transparency rules in response to disruptions.