Principal Officers

In 2006,  He was given a National Honour: Order of Volta, Companion by the Republic of Ghana. Prof. Anamuah-Mensah has spent a great deal of his professional life at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the University of Education, Winneba (UEW).

From 1985 to 1998 he worked and held several key positions at the University of Cape Coast and made very important contributions to academic work and the development of the University. Among others, he held the positions of Head of Science Education, Dean of Education (Faculty of Education) and Pro-Vice Chancellor. Undoubtedly, UCC benefited from his immense contribution.

A few of his contributions are listed below.

• He negotiated for a research grant valued at GH¢71,000 from the Rockefeller Foundation to support a study on the production of industry-oriented resource materials for science teaching.
• Was a member of the team that restructured the criteria for the appointments and promotions of senior members.
• Had oversight responsibility for preparing a PhD programme in science education as a model for the Faculty of Education.
• Led a team to review the Masters programme in Science Education.
• Was a principal partner in the preparation and introduction of a four year programme to train integrated science teachers for pre-tertiary institutions.
• Oversight for instituting and implementing the programme for improving the quality of primary education through research (CRIQPEG).
• Was involved in promoting the distance learning programme at UCC.
• Promoted the institution of PhD programmes in other departments in the Faculty of Education for academic staff without tertiary degrees.
• Led a committee to review new degree offerings that resulted in the establishment of the Primary Education Department.
• Had the responsibility of assisting the Vice Chancellor, acting in his absence and chairing a number of statutory committees such as Academic Planning Committee.

From 1998 to 2007 he served as the Principal of the then University College of Education of Wineaba (UCEW) and as the first Vice-Chancellor when it became autonomous as University of Education, Winneba (UEW). Additionally, he served as Director for a number of research centres of the Institution during this period. His contribution to UEW was tremendous. These include:

• He led the University to attract a grant of about three million six hundred dollars (GH¢ 3,600,000) from Carnegie Corporation of New York.
• Established a Quality Assurance Unit for the University
• Established an Academic Planning Committee to review new programmes/courses and changes in courses before their implementation.
• Spearheaded the introduction of distance learning in the training of basic school teachers.
• Established a programme to make every staff literate in the use of computer for teaching.
• Appointed academic councillors for students in all academic departments
• Appointed Vice Principals to head the two external campuses at Kumasi and Mampong in order to improve the management of the multi-campus system.
• Established the FM radio lectures to address the problem of large classes as well as introduce variety in delivery.
• Brought transparency into the administration of the Institution through effective use of the committee system and by granting Faculties/Schools/Divisions and the Halls greater leverage in planning and budgeting and the utilisation of funds.
• He brought visibility and identity to the University by providing opportunities to publish and/or exhibit scholarly works. Loans have been provided for the publication of books relevant to the courses on offer.

Prof. Anamuah-Mensah has several awards and academic honours, and over sixty publications to his name. He has prepared over twenty conference papers and has been involved in several research and development projects, a number of which are still ongoing. He has taught at both the undergraduate and post-graduate levels; and supervised students’ research work for post-graduate diploma, Master’s and PhD students. He can also boast of membership of scores of national and international boards/committees, University boards/committees and public bodies.

As the Deputy Director he guided the institute’s efforts in research initiatives and supported the implementation of the climate change post graduate education hosted at CSIR-FORIG. Prof Appiah initiated and helped craft the partnership between the CSIR and University of Eastern Finland (UEF), which led to the establishment, in 2012, of the Masters in Bioeconomy and Natural Resources Management Programme between CSIR and UEF. He has also initiated and led in the implementation of several national and international forestry and education collaborative projects funded by agencies such as the Academy of Finland, ITTO, the World Bank and the Finnish Foreign ministry through the UEF. Prof. Appiah’s project activities have contributed significantly to improving forest management and biodiversity conservation in Ghana. In recent years, he has turned his scholarly focus to higher education and leadership to help expand both Ghanaian and international students opportunities for post graduate education. He has devoted his time to advising and mentoring students interested in careers in education, teaching and research.

Prof. Appiah holds an Adjunct Professorship in Tropical Forestry at the university of Eastern Finland with academic interests that range across tropical forestry, silviculture, sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation and social forestry. He is the author or co-author of over 40 publications on topics related to the above-mentioned areas of academic interests including a standard textbook chapter used globally in training for wildland fire management, printed in thousands of copies in several languages. He is a member of several Professional Organizations including the Society for Ecological Restoration (since 2016), the Finnish University Partnership for International Development – UniPID (since 2006), the African Forest Forum (AFF) (since 2008), and The Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration (since 2010). Prof Appiah is also a member of several boards including the Board of Directors, Tapaman Senior Secondary Technical School, Abotoase, Oti Region, and the FinCEAL Regional Advisory Group. (FinCEAL = Developing Finnish Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation between Europe, Africa and the LAC Region. It is financially supported by Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture).

Prof. Appiah, who’s both parents are Ghanaian, attended the University College of Education, Mampong Campus, where he received his Diploma in Agricultural Education 1992-1995. He went on to earn Master of Science (MSc) degree in Land use in Developing Countries at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, formerly called The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (KVL) (1997-1999), and a Ph.D. in in Tropical Silviculture from the University of Helsinki, Finland (1999-2003). Prof. Appiah is married with two daughters.

Rev. Prof. Hans Adu-Dapaah has attended several conferences and won several honours and awards. Notable among them include, in 2000 Outstanding Scientist of the 21^st Century Diploma Award, International Scientist of the year in 2001 Diploma Award and National Best Researcher Award in 2005. He is a fellow of International Atomic Energy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi and a member of the Editorial Board of Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science. As a reputable Scientist, Rev. Prof. Adu-Dapaah led a multidisciplinary team to develop and release several crop varieties to boost the agriculture sector in Ghana. Rev. Prof. Hans Adu-Dapaah is married and a Senior Associated Pastor of Oasis of Love Church, Ahodwo, Kumasi.