Samuel Asiedu Owusu is an Associate Professor at the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in the Central Region of Ghana. Prof. Owusu served as the Research Coordinator of the Wellcome Trust funded GH-Solidarity Project (https://www.globalhealthsolidarity.org/) from May 2023 to February 2025 during his Sabbatical leave at the College of Humanities of the University of Ghana, He was the Honorary Secretary to the University of Cape Coast Institutional Review Board (UCCIRB) from September 2022 to July 2023 and the Administrator of the UCCIRB from November 2014 to August 2022. Prof. Owusu is an interdisciplinary social scientist with research interests in bioethics, population and health (child health, mHealth, medicines, children’s transport and mobility.
He has extensive research and facilitation experience in the areas of his research interest and has collaborated with both Ghanaian and international researchers to implement cutting-edge research projects. He serves as a consultant to several reputable Ghanaian and international institutions including the United States Agency for International Development through its METSS Project, United Kingdom Department for International Development, Economic and Social Research Council, Medical Research Council, Plan International Ghana, VREF, the Global Fund, and other Ghanaian Ministries, Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies.
Prof. Owusu holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Population and Health (2017), a Master of Philosophy degree in Population Studies (2009), and a Bachelor's degree in Population and Family Life Education (2003), all from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. He also holds a Master's degree in Bioethics from New York University-USA (2021) and a Certificate in Research Integrity from the New York University-University of Ghana Research Integrity Training Program (2021). He was a Visiting Doctoral Student at Durham University in the United Kingdom (Jan-June 2014 and Jan-April 2016). He is a professionally certified Teacher with the Ghana Education Service after successfully completing a 3-year Post post-secondary teacher Training Education at the Berekum Training College (now Berekum College of Education) in June 1998.
Prof. Owusu has worked for more than 20 years at DRIC and implemented over fifty research projects and consultancy assignments. He has attended more than 90 international and national conferences, seminars, webinars, and workshops where he played key roles as a co-convener, presenter, facilitator, or participant. As a research Administrator,
As the Administrator of the UCCIRB, Prof. Owusu collaborated seamlessly with the Board Members to receive, review, and approve over 2,000 research protocols submitted by research investigators. He's an experienced research ethics administrator and has been very pivotal in organizing orientation sessions for students and faculty members on the activities of Institutional Review Boards and the ethical clearance application process. He has facilitated high-level training sessions organised by institutions such as the University of Ghana, Ghana Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Education-Winneba, and Heritage Christian University College. He is also a very active member of the Ghana Association of Administrators of Research Ethics Committee (GHAAREC). He has served the Association in various capacities, including being the Chairperson of the National Symposium Planning Committee and Annual General Meetings (AGM). He currently chairs the Development and Standardisation Committee of the Bioethics Society of Ghana.
Prof. Owusu is a member of notable international Associations, including the International Bioethics Association, Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research, International Union of Scientific Study of Population, Association of American Geographers, International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development, and Union of African Population Studies. He is an Editorial Board member for Global Bioethics Journal and the Journal of Psychology in Africa, as well as a Peer-Reviewer for some reputable international journals like the Journal of Medical Ethics, Child Care in Practice, Health Expectations, Medical Internet Research, Open AIDS Journal, Anthropology and Medicine, and PLOS ONE.
He served as the President of the Ghana Fellowship of Evangelical Students at the University of Cape Coast (GHAFES-UCC) during the 2002/2003 academic year. He's currently the Western Presbytery President of the Bible Study and Prayer Group of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. He worships with Bethel Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at OLA Estates, Cape Coast. He is married with two children.
