Francis Ansah (PhD) is a Senior Research Fellow, and Head of Academic Programmes at the Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA). He is an Educational Policy and Quality assurance scholar with over 20 years of experience in teaching, research, administration, and leadership in higher education. Skilled in educational policy analysis, external/internal quality assurance, evaluation, and gender equity in education. A proven academic leader who has coordinated curriculum design, accreditation processes, quality assurance frameworks, and capacity-building workshops for higher education institutions in Ghana and internationally. Widely published with research focusing on higher education governance, quality management, and innovative pedagogies. Recipient of international research grants and a committed mentor of graduate researchers.
Dr. Francis Ansah
Senior Research Fellow - ( Senior Member ) Institute for Educational Planning and AdministrationHead of Section
Academic ProgrammesMy teaching philosophy is anchored in the belief that higher education should empower learners to think critically, act ethically, and contribute meaningfully to their societies. Having worked across diverse roles in academia, administration, and policy development, I recognize that effective teaching must go beyond knowledge transmission to cultivate inquiry, innovation, and transformation in learners.
At the University of Cape Coast and beyond, I have taught and supervised graduate students in educational management, policy, and quality assurance. These experiences affirm my conviction that teaching is most effective when it connects theory with practice. I therefore adopt an interactive, case-based, and research-oriented approach that enables students to apply abstract concepts to real-world challenges in education. For example, in courses such as Quality Assurance and Management in Higher Education and Educational Policy Analysis, I draw on my professional experiences as a quality assurance director and researcher to provide students with authentic insights into how policies and systems function in practice.
I view my classroom as a collaborative space where both lecturer and students co-construct knowledge. To achieve this, I encourage dialogue, critical reflection, and problem-solving. I also make a deliberate effort to be inclusive, recognizing that students come with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and aspirations. Equity and social inclusion, which are central to my research, also guide my teaching: I design assignments and discussions that give every student a voice and build confidence in their capacity to lead change.
Supervision of graduate research is another vital dimension of my teaching. I approach it as mentorship, guiding students not only to complete their theses successfully but also to become independent researchers capable of contributing new knowledge to the field. I place high value on academic integrity, methodological rigor, and practical relevance, ensuring that the research my students undertake can inform both policy and practice.
Ultimately, my philosophy is shaped by the conviction that education must drive social progress. I aim to nurture graduates who are not only knowledgeable but also reflective leaders, capable of advancing educational systems in Ghana, Africa, and the wider world. Teaching, for me, is both an intellectual responsibility and a moral commitment—to empower the next generation of scholars and practitioners to pursue excellence with purpose.
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Presenter
• International Seminar on “21st Century Leadership in Higher Education Organised by the Department of Higher and Professional Education, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) held at India Habitat Centre India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India.
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A panel member as a discussant
Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) Higher Education Project Closing Conference GAAS Conference Centre, Accra.
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Keynote Speaker
“Advancing Innovations and Technology in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education”, Conference of Heads of Health Training Institutions (COHHETI) Annual General Meeting. Raybow International Hotel, Takoradi, Ghana.
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Co-Presenter
68th Annual Comparative and International Education (CIES) ,Presented a paper on “Protest Makes Results: Experiences of Private Schools in Ghana” Miami Regency Hotel, Miami, FL, USA.
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Panel Chairperson
The 9th Association of West African Universities (AWAU) conference on promoting quality tertiary education in West Africa through collaboration, regional integration and technology University of Cape Coast, Ghana. .
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Presenter
Comparative International Education Society’s (CIES) 66th Annual Conference on ‘How far did COVID-19 Set Back the Girls’ Education Agenda and Where Do We Go from Here? Hyatt Regency Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
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Co-Presenter
11th International Conference on ‘Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Africa (ICQAHEA), the National University Commission. Abuja, Nigeria.
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Co-presenter
17th SMU International Conference on “Private Higher Education in Africa”, Ethiopian Airlines Aviation Academy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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A Panel Member
South Africa Science Forum on “Higher Education as an Emerging Field of Scientific Inquiry in Africa: Prospects and Challenges” “Igniting Conversations about Science”. CSIR International Conference Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. .
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Facilitator/Presenter
Akayat Hotel, Bolgatanga, Ghana Bolgatanga, Ghana.
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Facilitator/Presenter
Capital View Hotel, Koforidua, Ghana Koforidua, Ghana.
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Facilitator/Presenter
• T-TEL Leadership and Management capacity building workshop on Curriculum Leadership for Management of Colleges of Education in Ghana Ma-s Hotel, Tamale, Ghana.
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Participant
Dubai Novetel Hotel, Dubai .
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Facilitator/Presenter.
T-TEL Writers’ Workshop on ‘Leading and Managing Change for Management of Colleges of Education in Ghana. Elmina Beach Resort, Elmina Elmina Beach Resort, Elmina, Ghana.
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Facilitator/Presenter
T-TEL Leadership and Management capacity building workshop on ‘Leading Institutional Strengthening (Systems Leadership) for Management of Colleges of Education in Ghana. Elmina Beach Resort, Elmina, Ghana.
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Facilitator/Presenter
T-TEL Writers’ workshop on Leading Curriculum, Training and Learning for Management of Colleges of Education in Ghana Elmina Beach Resort, Elmina.
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Facilitator/Presenter
T-TEL Leadership and Management capacity building workshop on ‘Leading Institutional Strengthening (Systems Leadership) for Management of Colleges of Education in Ghana. Noda Hotel, Kumasi, Ghana.
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Facilitator/Presenter.
• Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA) Training workshop on capacity building in ‘Module Writing’ Birdrock Hotel, Anomabo, Ghana.
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Facilitator/Presenter.
T-TEL Leadership and Management capacity building workshop on “Setting New Directions” for Management of Colleges of Education in Ghana Radache Hotel, Tamale, Ghana.
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Facilitator/Presenter
• T-TEL Leadership and Management capacity building workshop on “Setting New Directions” for Management of Colleges of Education in Ghana Capital View Hotel, Koforidua, Ghana. .
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Facilitator/Presenter
T-TEL Leadership and Management capacity building workshop on ‘Setting New Directions for Management of Colleges of Education in Ghana Elmina Beach Resort, Elmina, Ghana.
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Facilitator/Presenter
• Secondary Education Improvement Project (SEIP) Workshop on Change Management for headteachers and headmistresses of low-performing Senior High Schools Anita Hotel, Kumasi, Ghana.
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Participant
• 1st Interdisciplinary Conference of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana and Tai Solarin University of Education, Nigeria University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
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Facilitator/Presenter
Workshop on capacity building for Education Management Information System (EMIS) Staff of Ministry of Education IEPA Resource Centre, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
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Facilitator/Presenter
• Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA) Workshop on Needs Assessment Capacity-building for Education Management Information System (EMIS) Staff of Ministry of Education’ Accra, Ghana.
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Facilitator/Presenter
• Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA) organised Workshop ‘The Climate of a Successful School and Leadership for Learning. Komenda, Edina, Eguafo, Abirem (KEEA) Education Municipality, Elmina.
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Facilitator/Presenter
Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA) Workshop on ‘The Climate of a Successful School, and Leadership for Learning Twifo Hemang Education District, Twifo Hemang, Ghana. .
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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.
EPS 904: Advanced Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis
University of Cape Coast.
SGS 801: Academic Writing for Graduate Students
University of Cape Coast.
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Golden Key International Honour Society Lifetime Membership
La Trobe University
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Postgraduate Scholarship Award
La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
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Postgraduate Scholarship Award
NUFFIC, Netherlands
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Assistant Registrar (General Administration)
Garden City University College, Kumasi, Ghana
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Hall Tutor
Adehye Hall, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
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Head of Academic Programmes
Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA), University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
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Senior Research Fellow
Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA), University of Cape Coast (UCC), Cape Coast, Ghana
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Academic Counsellor for MPhil Students
Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA), University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
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Research Fellow
Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA), University of Cape Coast (UCC), Cape Coast, Ghana
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Director of Quality Assurance
Garden City University College (GCUC), Kumasi, Ghana.
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Assistant Secretary (Test Administration)
National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations (NABPTEX), Accra, Ghana.
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Assistant Registrar (Academic)
Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Bolgatanga, Ghana
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Ag. Registrar
Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Bolgatanga, Ghana.
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Senior Administrative Assistant
Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Bolgatanga, Ghana.
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National Service Personnel
CSA/USAID QUIPS Project, Atobiase Circuit, Mphor Wassa East District, Ghana.
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Co-Principal Investigator
Cross-Industry Assessment of ‘UCC’ Graduates’ Work Ethics and Professionalism.
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Principal Investigator
Using Lean Six Sigma to reduce Vulnerability to Infectious diseases at Student Resident Halls at the University of Cape Coast. Ghana
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Principal Investigator
Back to School Research Related to Post Covid-19 School Closures
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Co-Principal Investigator
Investigating Transnational Education (TNE) Partnerships and the Environment of Distance Learning in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Ghana.
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Co-Principal Investigator
Innovative Pedagogies Project
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Co-Principal Investigator
West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) Validity and Reliability Study
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Principal Investigator
Designing self-evaluation instruments for academic programmes at Bolgatanga Polytechnic
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Co-Principal Investigator
Placement and Utilisation of IEPA’s Graduates in Sectors of the Ghanaian Economy
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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