Get to Know the Heart Behind Pamango
Tell us about yourself
My name is Jennifer Amankwa, and I’ve spent around 15 years working in Human Resources. I’m a Global HR Professional with multicultural experience across the UK, Canada and Ghana. My favourite areas of HR are inclusive talent acquisition, employer branding and workforce planning. I studied English at university and later completed a Master’s in Human Resource Management.
My career has taken me across Financial Services, Technology, Renewable Energy, Higher Education, Local Government and the Non‑Profit sector. In each space, I’ve partnered with senior leaders, strengthened recruitment operations and focused on delivering consistently excellent candidate experiences.
I currently split my time between London and Accra, and when I’m not working, you’ll probably find me doing Zumba, going for walks, reading or listening to music.
What inspired you to create Pamango?
This idea has been on my heart for a while now. I’ve worked in the UK and Canada supporting people into employment, and I reached a point where I thought, “Why am I not doing this for my own country too?”
We often hear that Africa has the youngest population in the world — a huge advantage for the future workforce — yet we also hear about job shortages, graduates struggling to find work and talent being underutilised. I know so many capable people looking for opportunities, and I felt compelled to do my bit to help. The talent here is incredible. I wanted to help create pathways, especially for Ghanaian youth, and contribute to solving some of the challenges around employment and opportunity.
What does the name Pamango mean?
Pamango is an amalgamation of two fruits that hold personal meaning for me: papaya (pawpaw in Ghana) and mango. I wanted a brand that felt vibrant, colourful and rooted in both Africa and the UK. Nothing grey, stiff or corporate — something that reflects who I am.
If you look closely at the logo, you’ll see it’s shaped like a papaya and incorporates Ghanaian Adinkra symbols. These are symbols that represents provers and sayings.
Bese Saka - (The orange top part of the fruit) is a bunch of cola nuts. It is a symbol of affluence, power, abundance, togetherness and unity. This symbol is important to me because I believe they are important values to have in business.
Adinkrahene - (The blue circular pattern in the middle) King of the Adinkra symbols, representing greatness, charisma, and leadership. Again, important characteristics for a successful business.
Lastly, I use blue and orange as the brand colours — they are pretty striking and complimentary colours on the colour wheel.
What values from home do you carry into every professional space?
Integrity, kindness, respect and motivation. The world is hard enough; the least we can do is treat each other as fellow human beings.
A moment that changed your direction completely
Moving to Canada. It was a bold decision that shifted the entire trajectory of my life. I often wonder what would have happened if I’d stayed in London — and all the experiences I would have missed.
How do you balance being warm and people‑centred with being firm and strategic?
By treating everyone with kindness and respect, while also maintaining clear boundaries, communicating openly and not being afraid to say no when needed. Warmth and clarity can absolutely coexist.
What does a good day at work look like for you?
A meaningful interaction with a candidate or an employer — those moments where I know I’ve genuinely helped someone on either side. That’s what energises me.
What makes Pamango’s approach to talent different?
Pamango brings together several strands:
Companies looking to grow in Ghana
Ghanaian companies looking to hire Ghanaian talent
Companies looking to hire remotely.
Candidate coaching to ensure people are career‑ready
It’s a blend that supports both organisations and individuals, and I truly believe it brings out the best of all worlds.
What do you wish more international companies understood about Ghanaian and African talent?
That they are missing out on exceptional talent, there is so much skill, creativity and potential here — it’s time to broaden horizons.
Anything else you’d like us to know?
Be sure to check out my blog and Instagram. I will be talking about all things work-related. Including a career cafe section where I speak to people in careers from all walks of life, candidate advice, employment news and more!