Prof. Emmanuel Kwasi Abu is an Associate Professor of Optometry at the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), Ghana. He holds a 3-year post-secondary Teacher's Certificate “A”, a Bachelor’s degree in Ophthalmic Sciences, a Doctor of Optometry degree, a Ph.D., all from UCC, and a Specialist Certificate in Low Vision from Cardiff University/College of Optometrists, UK. His Ph.D. studies investigated the associations between ocular toxoplasmosis and polymorphisms within human interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor cytokine genes. Prof. Abu’s research interests span multidisciplinary areas due to his diverse professional expertise in optometry and infection & immunity. They include ophthalmic infection and immunity, ocular implications of systemic and infectious diseases, low vision, and primary care optometry. Prof. Abu also has expertise in polymerase chain reaction and immunodiagnostic procedures. Prof. Abu is currently the Head of Mathematics and Science Programmes at the College of Distance Education, UCC. He has been an acting Provost of the College of Health and Allied Sciences, the Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences, and the Head, Department of Optometry and Vision Science, UCC. Prof. Abu is a member of the West African Health Organisation Technical Team that is responsible for harmonization of training curricula (basic and postgraduate), code of practice, and practice regulation for optometrists in the ECOWAS sub-region. Prof. Abu is an optometrist and a member of the Ghana Optometric Association. He has authored over sixty publications in peer review journals.
My teaching philosophy is anchored on producing 21st-century health professionals who are innovators, entrepreneurs, lifelong learners, and responsible global citizens. I seek to promote a resilient teaching and learning culture to produce responsible graduates with employable and entrepreneurship attitudes to excel in the labour market. My teaching philosophy, therefore, emphasises methods of student-centeredness and my content delivery comprises in-depth knowledge, practical/clinical competencies and professionalism.
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Dean
School of Allied Health Sciences -
Acting Provost
College of Health and Allied Sciences
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Participant
Relevance of Laboratory Investigations in Eye care Webinar.
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Oral Presentation
Scientific Presentation and Discussion Forum: The impact of COVID-19 on the world’s African communities Webinar.
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Participant
Ghana Optometric Association Annual General Meeting Eusbette Hotel, Sunyani.
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Participant, Rapporteur
West African Health Organisation (WAHO) Workshop to Review and Validate Harmonised Training Curricula for Allied Health Professionals in ECOWAS Region 2 Fevrier Hotel, Lome, Togo..
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Organiser, participant
Workshop on grant proposal writing, curriculum development, contemporary methods of lesson delivery in higher education, aligning outcomes, instruction and assessment in higher education, use of MCQs to construct higher order thinking items, use of learning management system for assessment. Centre for teaching support, University of Cape Coast.
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Participant
Paediatric Optometric Management Series Participant Webinar.
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Participant
COVID 19 Infection Prevention and Control for Optometrists Webinar .
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Oral presntation
International Credit Mobility Teaching Exchange Program to Cardiff University, UK Cardiff University, UK.
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Participant
Workshop on effective use of the Moodle e-learning platform for teaching. Centre for teaching support, University of Cape Coast. .
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Participant
WAHO workshop to finalise Harmonised Code of Ethics and Practice Regulations for Allied Health Professionals (Optometry) in ECOWAS region Hotel Palm Beach, Ougadougou, Burkina Faso..
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Participant
WAHO Workshop to Finalise Trainers’ Guide for Allied Health Professions (Optometry) in ECOWAS Region Hotel Palm Beach, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
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Oral presentation
3rd International Joint Symposium: Promotion of Infectious Disease Research Cooperation between Africa and Japan toward Science, Technology and Innovation Mensvic Hotel, East Legon, Accra, Ghana.
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Participant
WAHO Workshop to Develop and Validate Regional Training Work-Plan for Specialist Training Curricula in Priority Domains of Human Resource for Health (Optometry) in ECOWAS Region Hotel Palm Beach, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
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Poster presentation
The 14th Awaji international conference on infection and immunity ,Westin Hostel, Awaji, Japan.
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Facilitator
Contemporary Issues in Fisheries Management. Fisheries Leadership Short course for Practitioners funded by USAID/Fisheries Recovery Activity Ghana.
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Presenter
International and Regional Fisheries Institutional Frameworks and Bodies. Workshop on Destabilising Impacts of Distant Water Fishing Vessels (DWFV) in the Gulf of Guinea Yaounde, Cameroon.
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Guest Speaker
“Promoting Research Excellence for Impact on Marine Conservation in Africa”, Institute for Oceans and Fisheries Online Seminar Series University of British Columbia, Canada.
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Co-Facilitator
“Grants Proposal Writing Workshop” University for Development Studies.
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Presenter
“Performance of the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience”, Country Round Table Workshop Association of African Universities (AAU), Online.
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Facilitator
“Regional Political Parties Dialogue on Fisheries: Protecting Our Fish, Securing Our Future, Live Engagement on JoyNews TV Centre for National Culture, Cape Coast.
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Presenter
Professorial Inaugural Lecture on the topic “Our Oceans: Securing Our Common Future through Transformative Research” Medical School Auditorium, University of Cape Coast.
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Presenter
Africa’s Plastic Revolution: Advancing Global Solutions for Healthy Oceans, T.D. Walter Bean Professorship Public Lecture University of Waterloo, Canada.
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Presenter
Expanding the Impact of Research on Africa’s Blue Economy. National Consultative Workshop for the Formulation of a National Blue Economy Strategy for Angola Luanda, Angola.
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Panelist
Regional Steering Committee Workshop for the World Bank West African Coastal Resilience Investment Projects (WACA ReSiP and ReiP2) Banjul, Gambia.
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Facilitator
Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change. Short-term Training Course funded by USAID Ghana.
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Co-Discussant
“Expanding the Impact of Blue Economy in Africa” (with Professor Rashid Sumaila) World Bank Headquarters, Washington.
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Facilitator
Workshop on “Winning Research and Development Grants in a Competitive World” Bolgatanga Technical University, Ghana.
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Facilitator
Workshop on “Proposal and Grants writing” University of Ghana, Ghana.
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Speaker
Study Tour on Sustainable Fisheries Management & Leadership University of Rhode Island, United States.
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Presenter
Vulnerability to Viability (V2V) Ghana Case Study. Bootcamp on moving fisheries from Vulnerability to Viability Puri, Delhi, India.
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Guest Speaker
Workshop Presentation on “Expanding the Impact of Research on Africa’s Blue Economy in Africa Hohai University, China.
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Participant
6th ACE Impact Regional Workshop of the World Bank and the Association of African Universities Accra (Online).
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Panelist
Seaweed (Sargassum) Invasion on the Ghanaian Coasts, Implications for the National Economy and Management Live TV Broadcast, GTV.
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Guest Speaker
“West African Fisheries”, Workshop by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) University of Makerere, Kampala, Uganda.
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Group-led Research Support Grant
University of Cape Coast
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Wales for Africa Grant Scheme for Low Vision Training
Cardiff University
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International Credit Mobility Grant
Erasmus+
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Group-led Research Support Grant
University of Cape Coast
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Equipment Support Grant
Prudential Bank Ltd
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Best Research Award for PhD Thesis
University of Cape Coast
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The Japanese Travel Grant
The 14th Awaji International Conference on Infection and Immunity
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PhD Research Grant
University of Cape Coast
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Specialist Certificate in Low Vision
The College of Optometrists
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Member
Ghana Science Association
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Member
University Teachers Association of Ghana
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Member
Ghana Optometric Association
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PI
Patterns of refractive error in Ghana: a study at two referral centres
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PI
Exploring new paradigms in glaucoma diagnosis using contrast sensitivity perimetry
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PI
Ocular symptoms and visual function among professional footballers in the Central Region of Ghana
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Co-PI
Ocular findings in diabetes patients
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PI
Epidemiology of systemic and ocular toxoplasmosis and their associations with polymorphisms in human interferon gamma (IFN- γ) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) cytokine genes
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Team member, Contract for services to deliver a short course on Marine Litter under the OCPP
Cefas/UKAID
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Panel Chair, Reviewed Environmental Impact Statement of PECAN Energies for Offshore Exploration of Oil & Gas
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ghana, Secondi/Takoradi
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Team member, Contract for development of a short course on Marine Litter for the West Africa Region
Ocean Country Partnership Program (OCPP) funded by Cefas/UKAID
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Team member, Contract services to conduct data collection surveys on abandoned lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in Ghana
Ocean Country Partnership Program (OCPP) funded by Cefas/UKAID
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Lead Consultant, Contract for the Development of Fishery Courses Syllabi for Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences (DoFAS), University of Liberia
IDA-V3100
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Panel Chair, Evaluation of Applications for recruitment of Environmental, Social Safeguards Officers for Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI)
World Bank funded West Africa Coastal Areas Management Programme
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Lead Consultant, Consultancy to review and align national fisheries and aquaculture polices and laws with the PFRS, regional instruments and global best practices for 15 AU Member States
African Union – InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)
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Lead Consultant, Mechanisms to Facilitate the Domestication of Global Instruments and Initiatives (2022)
African Union – InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)
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Lead Consultant, Identification of Issues for SIDS, Development of Draft Strategic Positions for SIDS
African Union – InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)
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Team member, Environmental Systems Analysis of the Avu Lagoon Protected area
Calgary Zoo Foundation
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Trainer, Conduct Marine Spatial Planning Workshop in Ghana
University of Liverpool
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Team member, Pre-feasibility study for nature-based intervention for Anlo Beach community in Ghana
Valued at US$32,365.00
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Team member, Marine Plastic Pollution Study in Liberia
Conservation International
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Team member, Vulnerability, Adaptation and Resilience in a Changing Climate - WACA -VAR Workshop
World Bank
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Consultant, Support Development of Multi-sector Resilience Investment Programme for the West Africa Coastal Area Management Program
World Bank
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Consultant, Issues and Opportunities in the Ghanaian Fishery Sector: Addressing the context, prospects and challenges
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), United Kingdom
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Consultant, Estimations on renewable energy investments in Ghana
Highland Star Group (HSG) of Companies, Geneva, Switzerland
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Team Member, Regional Mapping of Experts and Institutions in Coastal management
World Bank
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Lead Consultant, Review of the Fisheries Act 2002 (act 625) and the Development of Draft Regulations for the conduct of Fisheries Impact Assessments
Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA) and GOGIG funded by DFID/UK
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Team member, Environmental baseline survey of water bodies in the Great Consolidated Diamond Ghana Limited (GCDGL) mining concession
AERC Ltd.
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Team member, Scoping Study on the Dredging of the Whin Estuary in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis
UCC Consultancy Unit/Consolidated Energy Ltd.
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Team member, Social Ecology of Anlo Beach Wetland of Ghana
Friends of the Nation/IUCN/French Global Environment Facility (GEF)
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Principal Investigator, Biodiversity Assessment of Urban Wetlands in the Western Region, Ghana with focus on Essei and Butuah Lagoons and the Whin River Estuary
USAID through Friends of the Nation