Our Team
Our Team
Meet the Uprise Travel team!
(staff listed alphabetically by last name)
Naa Addison
Travel Advisor
Before joining Uprise Travel, Naa graduated from the University of Ghana with a degree in political science. She then gained her first work experience at GCB Bank PLC as a personal banker and customer service representative. Naa leveraged her client management and customer service skills to jump into the travel industry because she loves sharing the history and culture of West Africa with people from around the world. She is fluent in English, Fante, and Ga. In her free time she enjoys reading novels and listening to music.
Musah Alhassan
Chief Executive Officer
Musah is the 2014 and 2015 winner of the Ghana Tourism Authority's Regional Tour Guide of the Year award. Before founding Uprise Travel, his tourism experience included M and J Tours, Hilton Hotels, Rustic Pathways, and SDL Tours. As a teenager Musah first started guiding tours on borrowed motorcycles. After earning degrees from Tamale Polytechnic, he completed hospitality training on full scholarship at HOTCATT in Accra. Musah was raised in Mole National Park, where his father was the longest-serving ranger in the park’s history. He resides in Accra, and speaks more than nine languages, including English, Hausa, Twi, Fante, Gonja, Dagate, Vagala, Sissala, Kamara, and Dagbani.
Esi Appiah
Travel Advisor
Esi graduated from the University of Professional Studies, Accra, with a degree in marketing. She completed her national service as a customer service representative for the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority. She then leveraged her experience to transition into tourism. She now supports small group tour clients as well as car rentals and other transport clients. In her free time she loves listening to podcasts and reading. Esi speaks English, Twi, Fante, and Ga.
Gifty Akotey
Travel Advisor Support
Gifty graduated from the University of Ghana with a degree in political science and linguistics. She gained her first work experience at Tonaton.com, where she was a customer support executive and sales associate. She later worked for Auxiliary, a private label brand of Crosstrain Ghana Limited, where she served as an administrative assistant. She uses her experience in customer service to create optimal client experiences for Uprise guests. She speaks English, Twi and Ga.
Rashid Aminu
Business Operations Manager
Rashid works in the Uprise office in Accra, Ghana, where he handles a range of responsibilities in business operations and accounting. He brings a strong background in both areas, including a degree in commerce from Cape Coast University, as well as a Higher National Diploma in accounting from Accra Polytechnic University. Before joining Uprise, he worked in a private accounting practice that was contracted by Uprise Travel. Rashid was born in Kpong, in Ghana's Eastern Region, but has spent most of his life in Accra. He speaks English, Twi, Hausa, Ga, Ewe, and Chamba.
Thomas Armah
Tour Operations Assistant
Thomas was born and raised in the Greater Accra region, He received his Bachelor of Technology in Tourism Management and Administration from Takoradi Technical University. He gained his first work experience with the Ghana Tourism Authority. Thomas loves to share the rich culture and heritage of West Africa to people all over the world. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music and watching movies.
Pimizi Jeremies Atevei
Togo and Benin Tour Guide
Jeremies is an experienced tour professional with a commitment to using tourism to drive local development. After studying English at the University of Kara, he launched Fly to Togo, a tourist agency specializing in travel and custom tours, which became the local agent for Tours By Locals. In 2014, he hosted Polish TV TVN for a tour in Togo. He is also the founder of Fly for Life, a sustainable tourism organization which aims to use tourism to bring about sustainable development. He speak four languages, including French, English, Ewe, and Kabye. Jeremies was raised in Kara and resides in Lome.
Almamy Badiane
Senegal Tour Guide
Almamy has been guiding tours in Senegal since 1993. Enterprising and self-made, Almamy has led clients from the International School of Dakar, the U.S. Embassy, the UN, USAID, UNICEF, and the Washington Post. Almamy is a trained carpenter and drum-maker who speaks five languages, including English, French, Wolof, Djola and Manding. His favorite activities with tourists include authentic Senegalese cultural activities, like drumming and mask dance performances, traditional wrestling events, visits to the fortune teller, and dinner with Senegalese families. Almamy was born and raised in Dakar.
Bright Kissi
Ghana Tour Guide
Bright Kissi was raised all over Ghana, including in Sunyani, Kumasi, Techiman, and Kpando. Bright first started working in tourism as a hotel receptionist and later became the receptionist at Pink Hostel International in Accra, where he interacted with foreign tourists and volunteers on a daily basis. Bright is an industrious entrepreneur who spends his free time flipping cars and helping renters find properties. He loves cars, driving, jazz, reggae, and meeting new people. He certified in First Aid by the West African Rescue Association and speaks English, Twi, Fante, Ga, and Ewe. Bright leads tours all over Ghana, but is usually found leading small group tours in Accra, the Volta Region, and Cape Coast.
Emmanuel Kumadze
Tour Operations Manager
Emmanuel Kumadze was born and raised in Tafi Atome, a small village in Ghana's Volta Region. For five years, he served as a tour guide and manager at the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary. He later worked for Compassionate Journeys, where he led large student groups on service trips aimed at combating child slavery around Lake Volta. He has also served as a tour guide for Semester at Sea in Ghana. He studied tourism at HOTCATT, Ghana's tourism and hospitality training institute, where he met Uprise Travel co-founder Musah Alhassan. Emmanuel is certified in First Aid by the West African Rescue Association and currently resides in Accra. He speaks English, Ewe, and Twi.
Astrid Mary
Travel Advisor
Astrid is a graduate of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in Accra with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management. She interned at Golden Tulip Hotel (now known as Lancaster Hotel) in Accra. There, she developed strong skills in client management and customer service while working in the reservations and restaurant departments. Prior to joining Uprise Travel, Astrid also worked at GCB Capital Ltd as a Fund Operations Officer. In her free time, Astrid enjoys listening to music and podcasts. She is fluent in English, Ga, and Twi.
Mamoudou Ndiaye
Senegal Tour Guide
Mamoudou grew up in Kolda, Casamance, in the south of Senegal. A musician who plays a traditional West African drum, Mamoudou began guiding tours in Senegal in 2003. He taught drumming and dancing to US Peace Corps volunteers and also worked with the Peace Corps to develop programs in rural villages in his home region. In 2005 he began teaching music for Where There Be Dragons, the international student travel company. Some of Mamoudou’s favorite activities with tourists include visiting traditional fortune tellers and storytellers. He is certified in First Aid by the West African Rescue Association and speaks English, French, Wollof, Mandinke, in additional to two other local languages. When he is not leading tours, he resides in Casamance.
Kwame Oduro
Ghana Tour Guide
Kwame Oduro is beloved by guests for his patience and easy-going nature. Kwame was born in Accra and raised in both Accra and Kumasi. Before becoming a tour guide, Kwame worked as a project manager in the communications industry, which allowed him to travel all over Ghana. Kwame speaks English, Twi, Fante and Ga. He resides in Accra with his wife, his son, and his daughter. In his free time, he loves listening to country music.
Bernice Quarshie
Reservationist
Bernice Quarshie was born and raised in Accra, Ghana. She received her HND in hospitality management from Takoradi Technical University and her BSc. in tourism management from the University of Cape Coast. Before joining Uprise, Bernice worked in a wide range of hospitality and travel jobs in Ghana. As reservationist at Uprise, Bernice manages relationships with vendors across West Africa. Bernice speaks English, Ga, Fante, and Twi. She is a mother to twins.
Ishmael Vidzah
Sales Support Specialist
Ishmael was born and raised in Tema, part of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. After receiving a degree in Integrated Community Development from the University For Development Studies, he gained his first work experience with Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and ISON Telecommunications. Ishmael is passionate about tourism because he feels that traveling helps you to understand the diverse cultures and peoples of the world. Ishmael works in our Accra office, where he works behind the scenes to ensure excellent customer service for our guests. In his free time, he enjoys watching movies and listening to good music. He speaks English, Twi, Fante, and Ewe.