Since 1995, K. Y. Amoako has been Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, the regional arm of the United Nations in Africa, at the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. Prior to ECA, he served in the World Bank for several years, most recently in senior positions including Director of the Education and Social Policy Department (1993-1995).

K.Y. Amoako received his B.A. (Hons) with a concentration in Economics from the University of Ghana in Legon and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley.