Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu

Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu is a Ghanaian by birth, and currently the Board Chairman of the Energy Commission of Ghana. He started his elementary school education at Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) Primary School, Akim Tafo from where he proceeded to St Peter’s Secondary School, Nkwatia Kwahu for his GCE Ordinary Level School Certificate.

He later did his Advanced level at Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS), Takoradi. Prof. Owusu gained admission to the University of Ghana to read BSc Agriculture, (after a year, as an Engineering student at UST). He graduated from the University of Ghana in 1987 and served as a Teaching/Research Assistant in the Department of Crop Science for two years. Professor Owusu was awarded the prestigious Japanese Government Scholarship (MONBUSHO) in October 1989 and left Ghana to pursue his Master of Science degree at Kochi University, Japan. He successfully completed his Masters (Agricultural Chemistry) in 1992 and was awarded another scholarship (MONBUSHO) to pursue a PhD in Entomology. Professor Owusu completed his PhD in 1995 with a gold medal award (for best PhD candidate).

He has researched extensively into insect pests of agricultural and medical importance. Professor Owusu holds an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA Project Management option) from the University of Ghana Business School. Additionally, he has a Diploma in Educational leadership from Harvard University. After completing his PhD, Professor Owusu was immediately appointed Assistant Professor at Kochi University in April 1995, and then Associate Professor in September, 1995. In March 1996, Professor Owusu was appointed a Research Fellow at the International Crops Research for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and was posted to Niger as an Entomologist.

Significant among his achievements was: the development of a system for the management of the millet head-miner, Heliocheilus albipunctella (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) based on indigenous plant species, and host interactions (semiochemicals and use of resistant varieties). He also was part of the team that tried the use of pheromones for the management of the millet stem borer, Coniesta ignefusalis.

In 1998, Professor Owusu was appointed lecturer at the then Department of Zoology, University of Ghana (now Animal Biology and Conservation Science). He was promoted to Senior lecturer in September 2000 and then to Associate Professor and Professor in June 2005, and March 2010 respectively. He has mentored several students to obtain their MPhil and PhDs. Prof. Owusu has edited several research articles for many journals and authored over a hundred scientific papers in the area of Entomology. He has also served as a consultant to many agencies in the areas of pesticide science, pest management, agriculture and project management.

Prof. Owusu has worked extensively on millet, vegetables, and urban insect pests, especially in the areas of insecticide resistance and the use of indigenous plant materials for the management of major insect pests. He has attracted considerable funds for research, and in 1999, personally built a laboratory (Food Security) at the University of Ghana for use by staff and students. He was responsible for the acquisition and installation of a Scanning Electron Microscope (First of its kind in West Africa, worth US$500,000) through grant aid from the Government of Japan.

Prof. Owusu is the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, having previously served as Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Dean/Ag. Dean of the School of Biological Sciences, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Science, Chairman of the Volta Basin Research Project (VBRP).

 Prof. Owusu has served in various capacities both as a student and lecturer/Professor. He was a great sportsman during his student days, representing his hall and the University in football, hockey and athletics. As a lecturer, he served as a hall tutor of Legon Hall, as well as the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG)-Legon branch, as Secretary.

Until recently, he was Chairman of the Management Board of Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG). He was a member of the National Accreditation Board, and a Council member of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho. He previously served as a Council member of the Catholic University College of Ghana, Fiapre as well as College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. He was chairman of several Boards/Committees at the University of Ghana, including the Business and Executive Committee, Academic Board, strategy committee, procurement and tender board, as well as Appointment and Promotions Board.

He served as a Science Assessor for the University of Ghana Promotions and Appointment Board between 2011 and 2015. He is also a member of numerous academic organizations worldwide. He served as the Editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Ghana Science Association, Regional Editor for the UNESCO African Journal of Science and Technology as well as a reviewer for a number of international journals.

Prof. Owusu is a keen sports enthusiast and served as a football analyst and commentator for GBC/GTV for many years. He was a Director of Accra Hearts of Oak football club in the early to mid- 2000.

In the area of management, Prof. Owusu at separate periods worked for Kanematsu and Sirius Corporations of Japan as Country Manager. His duties were mainly proposal development, project planning, implementation and evaluation/impact. He has been instrumental in the development of proposals and implementation of projects related to Japanese grants in aid to the Government of Ghana. So far, he has attracted about US$58 million for various projects in the energy, health, education, agriculture, and sports sectors of Ghana within the last 20 years.

His latest was a US$28 million grant from the Japanese government for the establishment of the Advanced Research laboratory at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research at the University of Ghana, in 2019. Significantly, the laboratory was completed just before the COVID-19 pandemic and became the sole laboratory for pioneer research into COVID-19 in Ghana and Africa.

In August 2008, Professor Owusu was significantly decorated as a “LIVING LEGEND” by the People of Kochi Japan for his contribution to Science and the Internationalization of Kochi city. In 2010, he was named the Tourism Ambassador of Kochi Prefecture, Japan. He remains the educational consultant to the Japanese Embassy in Accra and sits on some committees of the Embassy including scholarship and culture.

On 29th August, 2013, Prof. Owusu was awarded the prestigious Japanese Foreign Minister’s commendation award for his immense contributions and outstanding roles in the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries, and for helping improve the social and economic partnership between the people of Ghana and Japan.

In June 2016, he was appointed a member of the “Kenjin- Tatsujin” Japan International Advisory Council, which supports the Ashinaga African Leaders Initiative. The Emperor of Japan (through the Japanese Cabinet) awarded Prof. Owusu the highest award of ‘rising sun with gold’ on 29th November, 2017 for his general contribution to humanity.

He is married to Monica with three children: Floret, Samuel and Irene.