TECHNOCRAT MAGAZINE 2015 EDITION

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE

TECHNOCRAT

TECHNOCRAT ... bridging the gap between industry and academia

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Volume 13 July 2014 - June 2015 GH¢ 20.00

Graduation Ceremony held for Twenty Technicians of KNUST

Teknokrats Urged to be Agents of

Change

Page 30Page 16

Research and Collaboration: Twin Pillars for Visibility of Universities

Editorial Board

Chairperson: Dr. Kwabena NsiahMembers: Prof. Francis Kofi ForsonDr. Kojo Agyapong AfrifahDr. Kwame Ohene BuabengMr. V.A. Ankamah LomoteyDr. Mrs. Esther S. AfrehMr. Kofi AduMr. Charles NsiahDesign and Layout:Mr. Isaac MarfoPhotography:Mr. Jonathan Gyepi-AtteeJean Rivel Fondjo

The Technocrat Magazine is available on subscription.For enquiries, please contact the addresses given.

TECHNOCRATSUBSCRIPTION

Publisher:The University Relations OfficeRegistrar’s DepartmentKNUST, Private Mail BagUPO, Kumasi, Ghana, W/A.Tel: +223-3220-60021 +233-3220-60334Fax: +233-3220-60137E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]


TECHNOCRAT

TECHNOCRAT ... bridging the gap between industry and academia

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Volume 13 July 2014 - June 2015 GH¢ 20.00


Teknokrats Urged to be Agents of

Change

Page 30Page 16

Research and Collaboration: Twin Pillars for Visibility of Universities


SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE TECHNOCRAT JULY 2014 - JUNE 2015 VOLUME 13 3

EditorialVice-Chancellor’s Message Technocrat File

KNUST Inaugurates Kumasi Business Incubator

KNUST Commissions Graduate School Complex

KNUST Commissions Cookstoves Testing Lab

Teknokrats Urged to be Agents of Change

Pro Vice-Chancellor Calls on Businesses to Save the Environment at TRATECH

Professor Ampofo Calls for Behavioural Change in Curbing Cholera and Ebola

Centre of Excellence for Housing Studies Commissioned

KSB Links Up with Industry

KNUST Holds Workshop on Yam Storage

KNUST Alumnus Inducted into American National Academy of Inventors


Banks Donate to KNUST

Prof. Samuel Nii Odai and Prof. Sylvester Kojo Danour Inducted into the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences as Fellows

Students FrontDepartment of Economics Holds Second Job Fair

GESA Holds “Makers’ Fair” CompetitionKNUST Postgraduate Student Wins International Award

Research & TechnologyHonourable Mahama Ayariga Commissions KNUST Central Laboratory

College of Science Centralised Laboratory

A Local Response to Global Challenges

Training Workshop on Viral Cultures

CAn-Lab Reaches Out to Maintenance and UPK workers

Office of Grants and Research

Technocrat SportsKNUST Sports Directorate Presents Trophies to the Vice-Chancellor

Know where they are

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EDITORIAL

“Without research, teaching becomes a way of just imparting acquired textbook knowledge to students, devoid of any personal inquisitorial drive to probe into the necessities and problems of the larger society.” Dr. Kwabena Nsiah

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINETECHNOCRAT JULY 2014 - JUNE 2015 VOLUME 136

Editorial

In the spiritual realm, according to one of Paul’s Epistles, faith, hope and

love abide, but love is reckoned as the greatest. In a similar vein, in academia, three duties abide; teaching, research and extension, but research towers over the other two duties. Alternatively, it could be argued that research bridges teaching and extension. Without research, teaching becomes a way of just imparting acquired textbook knowledge to students, devoid of any personal inquisitorial drive to probe into the necessities and problems of the larger society. With such a teaching-centred outlook and output, research efforts are asphyxiated so there is neither

contribution to knowledge nor enhancement of working skills of either trainer or trainee.

The foregoing scenario used to be the lot of many third world universities, KNUST being no exception. The ‘publish or perish’ refrain appeared to be operative elsewhere, otherwise how could one spend two to three decades of life in a university without any publication. Indeed, up to the 90s, this was the sordid state of affairs, but by the turn of the second millennia, the situation is changing. The emergence of the collegiate system and the quest for each college to exert itself in pursuance of its holistic academic mandate, coupled

with the ranking of departments, are awakening us from the slumber in research.

Gone are the days when only some few departments could attract a handful of postgraduate students, even at the Masters level. PhD study was like searching for water in a desert. The fact that currently, the university has on its calendar a separate graduation ceremony for postgraduates shows the progress the university is making in research. Another attestation is the commissioning of the J.K Agyapong Graduate Block, a building complex dedicated to postgraduate studies. At present, a week hardly passes by without a viva voce being held in this complex. Another remarkable factor is the steady improvement in the provision of laboratories with their equipment, accessories and ancillaries.

The enhancement of the book and research allowance (BRA) has also been motivating. It goes without saying that every individual who receives BRA feels morally and professionally compelled to justify the enjoyment of this facility. It comes to subsidise several academic-linked expenditures; purchase of books, journals, reagents and consummables, provision of

The Evolving Research Landscape of KNUST

Dr. Kwabena Nsiah, Chairperson, Technocrat Magazine

TECHNOCRAT JULY 2014 - JUNE 2015 VOLUME 13 7SCiENCE aNd tECHNoloGY MaGaZiNE

Editorial

some logistic support, payment of subscription fees of local and international associations, publication charges, registration fees for conferences, etc. It therefore appears strange that some politicians want to use back door tactics to scrap BRA and replace with what they claim to be a better scheme. A bird in the hands is worth two in the bush. The abolition of BRA would be a disincentive to the cause of tertiary education; it is one of the few packages of attraction and retention of academic staff.

Setting up a research fund should be complementary to BRA, but not at the expense of BRA.

The research fund should be used to set a national agenda, where priority areas that would accelerate the country’s developmental goals, would be targeted, for thorough and sustained investigation.

Not unexpectedly, for political expedience, the proponents of the new fund will swear heaven and earth that every lecturer/researcher can access it, but it requires no clairvoyance to foresee that it would create some form of apartheid in research funding, where some lecturers would be consigned to exclusion. What happens to such lecturers/researchers who would be confined to Soweto?

The BRA is a sort of common fund, which provides a level ground for all teaching/research staff, as they make good their obligation in research to make them more effective teachers to impact the larger society with their skills, knowledge and innovations.

SCiENCE aNd tECHNoloGY MaGaZiNE

VICE-CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE

“I am convinced that we are making some progress in research. Gone are the days when lecturers spent their years teaching without making any publication, from the day of employment to time of compulsory disengagement from service.” Professor William Otoo Ellis

TECHNOCRAT JULY 2014 - JUNE 2015 VOLUME 13 9SCiENCE aNd tECHNoloGY MaGaZiNE

ViCE-CHaNCEllor’S MESSaGE

Without any shred of doubt, research is what separates

university education from pre-tertiary schools. Up to the secondary or high school level of education, trainees are equipped with rudiments of knowledge for every conceivable field of study or life; be it science, arts, religion, business or law. The level of knowledge acquired at the pre-tertiary level is quite low and is barely functional, as it is unable to address issues of specialization and skills development. Universities are set up for deeper knowledge acquisition, coupled with

enhanced skills, achievable through the vehicles of teaching and research. It is also argued that effective teaching is driven by research. A university that de-emphasises research becomes a glorified high school and any prospect for global visibility would be dim or snuffed out.

Top class universities have attained their eminent stature in academia and industry through research; studying, investigating, exploring, enquiring on targeted issues and providing implementable and pragmatic solutions that have catalyzed growth and

development. As a university, we have no option but to learn and copy the best practices in research in our resolve to spearhead the development of the country through science and technology.

I am convinced that we are making some progress in research. Gone are the days when lecturers spent their years teaching without making any publication, from the day of employment to time of compulsory disengagement from service. Several reasons were given; very poor remuneration and incentives, poor staffing situation, lack of laboratories

Research and Collaboration: the Twin Pillars for Visibility of Universities

Professor William Otoo Ellis, Vice-Chancellor, KNUST

TECHNOCRAT JULY 2014 - JUNE 2015 VOLUME 1310 SCiENCE aNd tECHNoloGY MaGaZiNE

ViCE-CHaNCEllor’S MESSaGE

and logistic support, unavailability of journals and other sources of information, military adventurism and political instability, suppression of academic freedom, etc. Thank God that many of these inhibitory factors have either been eliminated or at least, mitigated. Therefore the present generation of lecturers cannot be giving the yester years excuses for inertia in research and publications. Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, and through the succession of chief executives of our dear university, a lot of changes have occurred which should be sufficiently motivating to break the back of any inertia.

Seeing the important role of research, facilities, various initiatives and innovative strategies are continuously being put in place. Laboratories across all colleges have been given attention; either new ones have been built or old structures have been refurbished. The five-million Euro Turnkey project ensured the re-tooling of the laboratories of several departments in the College of Science. The laboratories of the Departments of Telecommunication and Mechanical Engineering, the Department of Petroleum Engineering and the Faculties of Agriculture and Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences are other examples. This issue of Technocrat also contains the exciting news

on the commissioning of the centralised KNUST laboratory. The equipment stock in this new laboratory includes a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, flow cytometer, and other state-of-the-art equipment which in years past, we would have associated with developed countries. The Teaching and Learning Innovation Fund (TALIF) has also been of immense help.

All these have come to facilitate research. It is also important to add that research enterprise is not a solo effort; it requires collaboration and team work. The temptation is to see collaboration only in terms of when partnership is forged with colleagues and organisations from outside; this is only part of the picture. The first level of collaboration is between lecturers and students, as the latter are supervised by the former in research. Though the students are being guided in knowledge acquisition and skills development, the process is also beneficial to the supervisor, whose expertise gets deepened as the number of students increases. Postgraduate studies, particularly, at the doctorate level is the climax of this relationship. This is the level where the capacity for problem identification is optimally developed, likewise the display of data acquisition, analysis and interpretation; all these are geared towards evidence-based solutions to identified problems.

Intra-departmental and inter-departmental collaboration among colleagues of similar research interest is also important. This creates room for mentorship and good succession plans within departments. The ability to collaborate with others, within and across disciplines tends to enrich experiences, deepen intellectual achievements, while widening scope of knowledge, diversifying and enhancing skills.

Another facet of collaboration involves individuals, departments, colleges and funding bodies, both local and abroad. This is where the Office of Grants and Research (OGR) has come to assist. I reckon that the OGR has come at an opportune time to help facilitate collaboration with external agencies as well as widening the opportunities for funding.

Let us all avail ourselves of the services and expertise offered by OGR in the sourcing of funds to support our efforts in research. Through the Committee on Research and Conferences, the university would mobilise additional resources to support critical areas of research in food, health, agriculture, energy, environment, etc. Our Science and Technology tag should not be a mere accolade but should be realistically transformational in impact



TECHNOCRAT FILE

KNUST Commissions Cookstoves Testing Lab“World Health Organization estimated that the exposure to indoor air pollution was responsible for 16,600 deaths per year in Ghana and that was why there was the need for the supply of more cookstoves annually in the country.”

Pages 14 & 15


Kwame nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

has officially commissioned the Kumasi Business Incubator (KBI)on December 4, 2014. The KBI project is sponsored under the e-Ghana Project of the Ministry of Communications, the World Bank and supported by the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI).

The concept on the operation of KBI was mooted by KNUST to help turn students’ and researchers’ ICT-based innovative ideas into commercial ventures. KBI is operated by the Centre for Business Development (CBD).

Professor William Otoo Ellis, Vice-Chancellor, in his keynote address stated that 70% of start-ups in developing countries including Ghana fail within the first two years of establishment. The KBI has thus been established to provide the platform for the University to assist residents in the Kumasi Metropolis and the northern sector of the country to create viable and sustainable commercial ventures. It provides space, shared facilities, technical and logistical support, as well as mentorship.

Prof. Ellis appealed to the general public to consult the KBI for assistance in setting up

businesses. He pledged the university’s support for other business incubators yet to be established so as to contribute to eradicating the challenge of youth and graduate unemployment and also to facilitate the nation’s economic transformation.

Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Communications, who was the special guest, observed that in many developing and developed countries, start-ups are encouraged and supported in their early stages in order to survive. He therefore pledged the support of government and his ministry for KBI.

KNUST Inaugurates Kumasi Business Incubator

The Minister Cutting the Tape, Assisted by the Vice-Chancellor


tECHNoCrat FilE

He noted that Universities are becoming an important locus for spin-offs and start-ups of technology-based business formations and encouraged the companies under the incubator to adopt best customer service practices in their service delivery.

On behalf of the Ministry of Communication, Dr. Omane Boamah donated a Nissan pick-up and twenty eight (28) hp laptops to the project.

The KBI has a vision to be a market leader in the nurturing and promotion of innovative and competitive businesses that emanate from research. Its mission is to assist in the development of innovative micro, small and medium-sized businesses, through the provision of business space, training, coaching and mentoring. There are currently twenty five (25) companies under incubation.

Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Communications

The Minister Presenting the Car

Minister Interacting with Some of the Incubatees

The Minister Making a Presentation to an Incubatee, as the VC and Mr. Akomeah Watch.


On 14 january, 2015 KNUST and Dr. Joseph Kwame Siaw

Agyapong, Executive Chairman of Zoomlion and Jospong Group of Companies jointly commissioned the Graduate School Complex, named J.K. Agyapong Graduate Block, KNUST.

The complex, located near KNUST School of Business (KSB), contains seven offices, a twelve-seater conference room, four seminar rooms, a two hundred-capacity conference room, one library for graduate students, washrooms and a kitchenette.

In an address at the ceremony, Professor William Otoo Ellis, Vice-Chancellor of KNUST was elated that the partnership between the University and the private sector was bearing fruit in the supreme interest of the country. He stated that currently the mission of the Graduate School was towards consolidating the university as a strong research institution, and that was why keen attention was being paid to the School of Graduate and Research Studies.

Prof. Ellis explained that a proposal was submitted from KNUST to Zoomlion Ghana Limited, the leading waste

management company in the country and in the sub-region, in February, 2011 to assist the University to put up the complex. The block was the result of the agreement between the two parties. The Vice Chancellor was elated that the School of Graduate Studies now had a new identity, focus and vibrancy.

The Vice-Chancellor further indicated that the edifice had been named after Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyapong, the Executive Chairman of Zoomlion, for investing in a good cause. He added that the University was proud of him because

KNUST Commissions Graduate School Complex

The VC (left), Mr. Siaw Agyapong (second from left) Listening to the Citation on the Plaque at the Commissioning


tECHNoCrat FilE

in the university. The CEO of Zoomlion announced that a sum of two million Ghana cedis (GH¢2,000,000.00) would be set aside yearly for research in the Graduate School. He asked management to make sure that the edifice was kept in good shape and hold it in high esteem. He further promised to look out for other areas to develop, in order to help the University grow, like introduction of scholarship schemes to help graduate students.

Concluding his address Dr. Siaw expressed his gratitude to the University authorities and to all parties involved in the project.

he showed great passion for the project, which is meant to support graduate studies – a catalyst for development and social transformation.

Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyapong, the Executive Chairman of Zoomlion also addressed the

gathering. He observed that the relationship between KNUST and Zoomlion had yielded great benefits to both parties. Dr. Siaw advised the University to engage the private sector and entrepreneurs in the development of infrastructure

Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyapong, Executive Chairman, Zoomlion


The technology Consultancy Centre (TCC) of the College of

Engineering of KNUST, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), commissioned a special laboratory on 31st March, 2015. The primary goal of the laboratory which cost one hundred and fifty thousand United States dollars (US$150,000) is to carry out tests on the efficiency, performance, emission and heat levels of local and imported cookstoves.

Prof. William Otoo Ellis, Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, speaking at the ceremony, commended TCC for continuing to serve as a catalyst for

networking between industry and academia. He noted that the project which was a collaboration among TCC, UNDP, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Energy Commission and the International Development Innovation Network, (IDIN), would be used for research, teaching and training in short courses. It would also be used by the West African sub-region. He hoped it would be a reference laboratory for other state agencies such as the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).

The Vice-Chancellor ended his address by acknowledging the UNDP for providing equipment

worth one hundred thousand US Dollars (US$100, 000), the Energy Commission of Ghana for facilitating the bidding process and the USAID and IDIN for funding the renovation of the laboratory.

Mr. Dominic Sam, UNDP Country Director, expressed his concern on the high demand for fuel wood, putting Ghana’s forest under intense pressure, and contributing to the high rate of deforestation, as the current levels of fuel-wood consumption exceeded forest growth. Mr. Sam, observed that the World Health Organization estimated that the exposure to indoor air pollution was responsible for 16,600 deaths per year in Ghana and that was why there

KNUST Commissions Cookstoves Testing Lab

The VC Assisting in the Tape Cutting Ceremony


tECHNoCrat FilE

was the need for the supply of more cookstoves annually in the country.

Mr. Sam disclosed that the Ghana Alliance for Clean Cookstoves had set an ambitious but achievable target to foster the adoption of clean cookstoves by four million (4,000,000) households in Ghana and support the distribution of five million (5,000,000) improved cookstoves by the year 2020. He indicated that a labelling scheme would be designed to clearly provide information on regulation of the thermal and energy efficiency of the stoves to consumers. This was to ensure that only quality products were available on the market.

According to Mr Sam, the laboratory would not be used for testing purposes only, but also to create an avenue for research and development for continuous improvement of cookstoves in Ghana. He hoped that the laboratory would be accredited by the Ghana Standard Authority to test and issue certificates for improved cookstoves.

Mr. Kwabena A. Otu-Danquah, Head, Renewable Energy Division of the Ghana Energy Commission, observed that there were five (5) manufacturing companies in the country producing improved coookstoves for the Ghanaian market. He added that technical standards for improved

cookstoves were developed with the support of UNDP to ensure efficient and low emission levels of cookstoves on the market.

Mr.Otu-Danquah was of the expectation that TCC would charge fees for the testing of cookstoves and the income generated would be used

Demonstrating the Use of a Cookstove

Samples of Cookstoves

for the administration of the facility to ensure operational sustainability. He urged all cookstoves manufacturers to take advantage of the laboratory to test their products.


Teknokrat tony danklu, President of KNUST Alumni Association

has called on all Teknokrats to begin to see themselves as agents of change, development and growth. He said “We Teknokrats, trained from this University, must therefore claim ownership of the development and growth agenda of our country.”

Teknokrat Danklu made this call at the 8th Biennial Congress of the KNUST Alumni Association in Kumasi held at the Business School auditorium, from 16th to 19th October, 2014. The theme

was “Transforming Ghana’s Stunted Development through Appropriate Application of Science and Technology: Teknokrats, Arise and Build”. The Congress was attended by Teknokrats from many chapters of the association, home and abroad.

Mr. Danklu stated that every transformation brings about remarkable change. So he challenged Teknokrats not just to be content with their qualifications as engineers, architects, pharmacists, scientists, planners, quantity surveyors, etc. His expectation

was that Teknokrats would become more concerned, especially when Ghana’s development and growth have been described as stunted by the World Bank, IMF and other development partners.

Teknokrat Danklu reaffirmed that science and technology were the main vehicle for development and growth. Indeed, KNUST was established by the first President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, to spearhead the rapid development and accelerated growth of Ghana.

Teknokrats Urged to be Agents of Change

Teknokrat Danklu, President, KNUST Alumni Association


tECHNoCrat FilE

He said that Alumni had played and continue to play various roles in the development and growth of industry in the country. This, he continued, was evident in how their ingenuity had kept institutions like GNPC, VRA, ECG, GRIDCo, and other key areas of our economy running, in the face of daunting challenges. His concern, however, was that despite the efforts of Teknokrats, we appear not to be making the desired impact on the country’s development and growth. He therefore charged his fellow Teknokrats to arise and salvage Ghana from her current situation.

Oheneba Aduse Poku, the Akyempemhene and Chairman for the Congress, stated that the importance of university education was to facilitate the development of the African continent. He urged alumni to put in place strategies and recommendations that would drive the development of the African continent from its current state.

Professor William Otoo Ellis, the Vice-Chancellor, in his address said the importance of the Congress was to use the occasion to think about the growth and development of the University and the country as a whole. He hoped at the end of the Congress, Teknokrats would be able to come up with workable solutions to address Ghana’s stunted growth.

Dr. Alfred Sugri Tia, the Deputy Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, expressed his happiness at being present at the Congress. He emphasised that science and technology should be the backbone in addressing the challenges of mankind and in transforming the economy.

Teknokrat Daniel Owiredu, the Executive Vice-President of the Golden Star Resources Limited, was the Keynote Speaker for the Congress. In his address, he also conceded that Ghana was currently faced with various external and internal economic pressures which had brought untold hardships to the nation. Quoting from a communiqué of a meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government, held in Sri Lanka; he indicated ‘’Eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge

facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.’’ He said other issues raised by the communiqué included the importance of democracy, human rights, international peace and security.

He also cited a World Bank report which said Ghana had a GDP which was above South Korea and Malaysia in 1970, but the country had since fallen behind those Asian nations whose economies were running while that of Ghana was crawling.

He could not fathom how we got lost in our development path and now appear to be in the wilderness and also wondered if we had not made a mockery of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s declaration that the black man was capable of managing his own affairs.

Teknokrat Daniel Owiredu, Executive Vice-President, Golden Star Resources Limited


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Mr. Owiredu was glad that KNUST, over the years had turned out a large army of graduates who had conferred upon themselves the title Teknokrats. He noted that as a result of the high quality education provided by the Alma Mater, Teknokrats are highly placed to help implement, in practical terms, the provisions in the Commonwealth Communiqué issued in Colombo; using the mix of specialised knowledge and skills to contribute more meaningfully and effectively to the progressive eradication of poverty, for the protection of the vulnerable and drastic reduction in the inequalities that stare us in the face, wherever we look in the country.

Teknokrat Owiredu was of the view that achieving meaningful and sustained development called for major changes in attitudes, beliefs, customs, administrative and other structures, as well as adopting enabling socio-political systems. He challenged the country to re-examine its industrialisation and production policies, and aim at reducing the influx of cheap foreign goods. He further challenged the country’s technical people by encouraging them to be in a position to undertake projects that are currently dependent on imported expertise.

He recommended a state-driven policy that encourages technical research and development into

Dignitaries at the High Table

priority sectors of the country’s economy. Such policy-based S&T vision will definitely accelerate national development and growth.



Professor samuel Nii Odai, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, has

called on businesses to consider the implications of their activities on the environment. He made this call at the launch of the 2015 Trade and Technology Fair (TRATECH), organised by the Students Representative Council (SRC). The fair had the theme “People, Planet and Profit: Embracing Sustainability and Innovation for Business Growth.”

Prof. Nii Odai explained that profit was good but businesses should not only consider

profit to the neglect of the environment. This was because a negative attitude towards the environment would affect generations unborn. He made a passionate appeal to businesses to adopt innovative strategies to save the environment.

“As a science and technology university, equipping students with the requisite entrepreneurial skills, it is our responsibility to ensure that future generations do not suffer due to our actions today,” he stated. He therefore commended the students for choosing the theme.

Joseph Baffour, Chairman of the TRATECH Committee, observed that the 2015 fair sought to provide employment and capacity-building to exhibitors with good and attractive business ideas. Exhibitors would compete under the SRC Business Development Challenge. Viable businesses that emerge winners would be brought into partnership with the Kumasi Business Incubator (KBI) and the Centre for Business Development.

Items on exhibition included electronics, clothing, drugs, cosmetics, footwear, ceramics,

Pro Vice-Chancellor Calls on Businesses to Save the Environment at TRATECH

Prof. Samuel Nii Odai, Pro Vice-Chancellor


tECHNoCrat FilE

paintings, sculpture, decorative accessories, food, beverages and drinks. There were exhibitions from multimedia, travel and tourism companies and other service providers in the Kumasi Business Incubator (KBI).

Duke Sasu, the SRC President asked for support for students’ ideas. As a result, fourteen (14) start-up businesses and ideas of students were selected to be supported with funds.

Apart from the usual college and departmental exhibitions, a significant number of exhibitors were students and

alumni entrepreneurs. Wise Technologies, an electronic company owned and funded by some students, exhibited universal modems and power banks. The power banks are power devices for charging smartphones, tablets, cameras, Go Pro, MP3 players, among others. The power bank would help students to charge their mobile devices in this time of power crisis. Mtrotech, another student-owned business, exhibited cane furniture and hand-made customised T-shirts made from sea shells, clay, wood and other natural materials.

Some undergraduate students from the KNUST School of Business (KSB) also exhibited Fresh Drinking Yoghurt. The drink, known as Lese Fresh Drinking Yoghurt had strawberry, mango and orange flavours. At the KSB stand were assorted bead products such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc., under the label Queens Pearl.

Duke Sasu, SRC President and Some of His Executives



Professor william Kwabena Ampofo of the Noguchi Memorial

Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, has described it as a shame; that at this stage of Ghana’s development, within a year, all the ten regions of the country had recorded over twenty five thousand (25,000) cases of cholera with some fatalities. This was on the occasion of a lecture he delivered during a one-day seminar on Ebola and Cholera, organised by the College of Science, KNUST, in collaboration with the Ghana Science Association.

He was speaking on the topic “Ebola and Cholera: Public Health Emergencies of Grave Concern”. Prof. Ampofo bemoaned the continuous existence of risk factors such as unsafe drinking water, street-vended food, poor access to water, floods, contamination of domestic water sources and the increase in person-to-person transmission.

Prof. Ampofo called on the government to enact and enforce bye-laws to regulate sanitation in the country and help distribute aqua tablets to treat drinking water. He further

advised the citizenry to drink treated water; prepare and eat food under hygienic conditions and also to avoid defaecating in the open.

On Ebola, he said that as at October 2014, there were thirteen thousand five hundred and seven (13,507) reported cases in eight affected countries, out of which four thousand nine hundred and fifty one (4951) deaths had been reported. He said that in Ghana there had been one hundred and twelve suspected cases but all proved negative.

Professor Ampofo Calls for Behavioural Change in Curbing Cholera and Ebola

Professor William Kwabena Ampofo


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He noted that despite the devastating nature of Ebola, it had no cure, and that efforts were being made at the international level to produce drugs and vaccines to curb the disease. He further noted that issues of ethics had become critical. For instance, the World Health Organization had said that though it was ethical to provide experimental drugs and vaccines for Ebola, there was also a “moral duty” to conduct clinical trials of these experimental drugs and vaccines to determine whether they were safe and effective. In the United States of America, the Food and Drug Administration had granted expanded access to several medications. Prof. Ampofo said currently there were no commercial vaccines but TKM-Ebola, Chimp Adenovirus Type 3, the Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-based vaccines (rVSV) were being considered.

Currently, several countries including the USA, many countries in Europe and Africa are undertaking phase 1 trials of both the CHd3 EBV and the rVSV Ebola Virus. Alternative treatments through blood transfusion were being considered. Prof. Ampofo, concluded his presentation, by calling for behavioural change, quarantining and other safety practices by health and laboratory staff to reduce transmission.

Dr. Yaw Bio, Director of the University Health Services, revealed that though over two hundred cases of cholera were reported in the Ashanti Region, no case had been reported on KNUST campus. This, he said, was due to the strict measures that had been instituted on the campus. On Ebola, he said the university had moved from ‘red’ to ‘amber’. He explained that the university community was in ‘red’ when school reopened for the First Semester, but moved to ‘amber’ after twenty-one days. Dr. Bio also made it known that the university, in preparedness for any case of Ebola infection, had set up an Ebola Isolation Centre.

The Director of University Health Services also said staff of the KNUST Guest House in Accra had been equipped and trained in the screening for Ebola. They had also been given

educational materials on Ebola and that hand sanitizers had also been placed at vantage points in the Guest House. He had also advised staff of the KNUST Guest House to ensure guests comply with the screening process.

Dr. Yaw Bio, Director, University Health Services



In order to train and produce quality house managers, the Ghana

Institute of Housing (GIH), in collaboration with Africa for Development Bank (AfDB) and the Chartered Institute of Housing has commissioned a centre of excellence for housing studies at the College of Architecture and Planning (CAPSS), KNUST. The ceremony took place on 4th December, 2014. The centre comprises a seminar room with a seating capacity of sixteen, a research room with fifteen computers, a secretarial and director’s room. The project was funded by the

Nigerian Technical Cooperation Fund (NTCF), under the auspices of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The centre would facilitate research in housing management since there are many estate managers in Ghana but very few housing managers.

In a speech, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof William Otoo Ellis noted that the centre was the first of its kind to be established in Ghana, adding that a standard needed to be set for others to follow. He was convinced that the industrial partners made the right choice by coming to KNUST to

establish the centre because the programmes offered by the host College could adequately provide the necessary support.

In a welcome address, the Provost of the College of Architecture and Planning, Prof Edward Badu, disclosed that the Minister for Foreign Affairs had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with KNUST in the past year and provided a seed money to the College to start with the centre. This, he said, was through the effort of a three-member committee led by Prof. S. O. Affram.

Centre of Excellence for Housing Studies Commissioned

Mrs. Afolashade Ope Cuts the Tape for the Commissioning, as the VC and Provost Look on


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Mr. Seyi Alade, a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing, expressed his joy about the centre, and advised students to make good use of it. He explained that the centre was put up for African students to learn about housing management because housing involved more than putting up a structure. According to him, the project was a sign of a fruitful partnership and also the beginning of other greater opportunities. He thanked the College for the partnership

The centre is among two centres to be established in two universities, each in five African countries. The project is co-managed by the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, and implemented by the African Housing Professionals Association of Nigeria. (AHPAN). Representatives of other partners who were present at the ceremony included Mrs. Helen Ankrah, Mr Akin Adejumo and Mrs. Afolashade Ope.

Rev. Fr. Dr. Addai Mensah Dedicating the Centre

Some Staff of the College and Guests Inspecting the Facilities at the Centre



To foster the linkage with industries in Kumasi the KNUST School of

Business (KSB) has organised a one-day seminar for all rural bank managers in the Ashanti Region. The seminar, which is in line with the Vice-Chancellor’s Community Impact Project (CIP), is also a response to a challenge to KSB to be more visible to promote businesses in the metropolis.

Professor Joseph Magnus Frimpong, Dean of KSB, said the dynamics of business around the world is changing very fast. The unprecedented change is being led by the commercial and service sectors. Given that Kumasi is well known for its commercial activities, having several small and medium scale industries and enterprises that deal

with the Banks, especially the Rural Banks, it was therefore appropriate to have the seminar with Rural Banks because of the critical role they play in providing capital to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).

Professor William Otoo Ellis, the Vice-Chancellor drew attention to the changing trend of the productive sector, over the past three years with its attendant problems, which called for serious attention. He reckoned that the Ashanti Region used to have thriving commercial activities in metal, ceramics, weaving and agriculture but these have been overtaken by buying and selling. With rural banks mostly utilised by SMEs, it is expected that as the banks grow, the SMEs would also grow. He lauded KSB’s initiative

to partner Rural Banks as a step in the right direction.

Dr. Ahmed Agyapong, a Senior Lecturer at KSB, gave an overview of his research work on “Service Quality Gaps in the Quality of Service Provided by Rural Banks in the Ashanti Region”. He said Rural Banks play a critical role in the development of SMEs. With the increasing number of Rural Banks operating in the Region, service quality was important. He stated that Rural Banks help SMEs to grow and they need a strong base to operate. It was therefore important to support Rural Banks to improve their performance, especially in their service delivery to keep up with the competition in the banking sector.

KSB Links Up with Industry

Resource Persons and Some Participants at the Workshop in a Group Photograph


Mr. Samuel Akomea, a Lecturer at KSB, in his presentation on “Closing the service gaps”, encouraged managers of Rural Banks to identify the human resource needs of their staff and put plans in place for their continuous training. Mr. Akomea also advised rural bank managers to offer customer training to their clients when the need arises. They should not assume that customers would automatically understand new directives. He further advised that it was important for the banks to introduce new products, services and policies. He challenged them to use other effective media of communication, apart from posters and notices that are usually seen in the banks.

Top and Bottom Lecturers of KSB at the Worshop

Participants at the Workshop


Kwame nkrumah University of Science and Technology has

held a one-day multi-stakeholder workshop on yam storage and new product development. The workshop which was under the auspices of the Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAID), Crops Research Institute (CRI) and KNUST was organised to deepen the understanding of stakeholders on yam storage methods and new product development. The venue for the programme was the International Centre for Innovative Learning, KNUST.

Giving the welcome address on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor

of KNUST, Professor Armstrong Donkor, former Dean of Faculty of Agriculture lauded the participants for making themselves available for the workshop. He observed that though agriculture was very important for the development of a country, its contribution to Ghana’s GDP had consistently declined over the years, partly due to huge post-harvest losses estimated to be in the range of 30-60% of harvested produce. He added that yam was a preferred staple crop in many households and is a major source of employment and income for all actors in the value chain including input suppliers, farmers, processors and traders. Yam was a major

source of foreign exchange and fetched US$12 million from the over 25,000 metric tons of fresh yam exported in 2012.

Prof. Donkor further said that despite its importance, yam production was plagued with several other challenges including high labour cost and limited access to quality planting materials. He attributed the high levels of post-harvest losses to limited access to improved technologies for storage and processing. Yam farmers in Ghana had not benefitted fully from the production and marketing of the crop, due to their inability to hold stock during glut periods, for supply in times

KNUST Holds Workshop on Yam Storage

Participants at the Yam Storage Workshop


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of shortage. Therefore, the prevailing situation is that the supply of the produce exceeds demand during the harvesting period, forcing farmers to sell their produce at cheap prices, leading to shortages and attendant loss of income of the families of the farmers in the lean seasons.

Prof. Donkor was full of appreciation to the stakeholders who organised the workshop for participants to brainstorm and to find solutions to the problems faced in the value chain of yam production. He hoped that their deliberations would strengthen the collaboration amongst the stakeholders and lead ultimately to solving problems faced by farmers, traders and all actors in the yam value chain.

Dr. Robert Aidoo, project leader for the workshop, in his overview of the purpose of the workshop, said it was part of the AUSAID’s two-year project dubbed “Improved Yam Storage for Food Security and Income (IYSFSI)”, which started in 2013 and which cost three hundred and seventy-five thousand U.S dollars ($375,000). He explained that the project would help improve 36 yam storage structures in 18 communities, conduct reconnaissance in 10 yam districts, as well as other baseline surveys in Techiman, Ejura, Sene, West Gonja, Yendi, Kwahu-North Afram Plains Districts.

Dr Aidoo further emphasised the need for building the capacity of farmers on effective storage systems and post-harvest handling. The project would also support five MPhil students and one PhD student from KNUST to conduct research on yam storage and value addition.

Dr. Kingsley Osei, who represented the Director for CRI, also drew attention to the threat posed by post-harvest losses to the economic well-being of farmers and the whole nation. He therefore indicated that reducing post-harvest losses in agriculture should be a local, regional or a national issue as it would contribute to improving farmers’ livelihood and increasing the country’s foreign exchange earnings. He hoped that the participants would share ideas and knowledge that would inform the direction and progress of the project and help achieve the objectives of the workshop.

The workshop had participants from KNUST, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and others. There was an exhibition on food products like bread, doughnut, cake, sausage roll, weanimix, pizza and other products made from yam.

Dr. Robert Aidoo, Project Leader


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A ghanaian scientist and an alumnus of KNUST, Dr. Thomas O.

Mensah, has been inducted into the United States National Academy of Inventors (NAI). According to NAI, its Fellows Programme has 414 fellows worldwide, from more than 150 prestigious universities, governmental and non-profit research institutions.

Dr. Mensah is one of three blacks among 167 inventors who were honoured by the NAI at its 4th annual conference that took place from March 19-20, 2015 at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. The other two are Dr. Mark E. Dean, formerly of IBM and now at the University of Tennessee and Dr. Babatunde

Ayodeji Ogunnaike, Dean of the University of Delaware. According to the NAI, a researcher’s contribution reaches the benchmark of inventorship, as recognised by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, when the discovery was not obvious to someone else skilled in the field, and had a specific use.

The most popular of Dr. Mensah’s inventions, are in Fibre Optics and Nanotechnology, which earned him seven USA and worldwide patents, over a period of six years, making him the first black man to attain such a feat. He currently has 14 patents.

Dr. Mensah is presently the President and CEO of Georgia

Aerospace Systems. He is passionate about green energy and sustainable development. Commenting on the honour done him, he said “I am greatly humbled by my NAI Fellowship and recent induction and hope that it serves as an inspiration to young people worldwide, especially in Africa; that they can attain whatever they set themselves out to do, provided they stay focused and dedicated to hard work.”

A former student of Adisadel College and KNUST, Dr. Mensah also holds a Ph.D in Chemical Engineering from Montpellier University in France and a Certificate in Modeling of Chemical Processes from the world acclaimed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA.

Congratulations to Teknokrat Thomas O Mensah!

KNUST Alumnus Inducted into American National Academy of Inventors

Teknokrat Thomas O. Mensah


tECHNoCrat FilE

Monday 22nd june would be a day that would be etched

forever on the minds of some twenty (20) Technicians of KNUST. An official University graduation ceremony was organised in the College of Science Auditorium, for the award of Certificates to these Technician, after they had gone through three levels of Science Laboratory Training Programme. The award ceremony was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. W.O. Ellis.

In his address during the ceremony, Prof Ellis provided a background to the Science Laboratory Technicians

programme. It was an initiative from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, in 2011, when Prof. M. Duwiejuah was the Dean. The Faculty Board had seen it expedient to put a programme in place to offer formal training to the Technicians, to update their knowledge and skills. Therefore, a committee was set up to draft a syllabus for the training. It was out of the recommendation of this committee that the College of Science was put in charge of the running of the programme. An implementation Committee, was set up in the College of Science. It was this committee, chaired by Dr K. Nsiah, which had supervised the successful

running of the programme, for the students to be awarded with certificate for Science Laboratory Technicians.

It was the completion of the first three levels that has enabled the Technicians to acquire the certificate. The Vice-Chancellor indicated there were two more levels to be run, for a Diploma to be awarded. He added, there were plans to upgrade the training to a BSc degree.

He congratulated the graduands for taking the opportunity to upgrade themselves. He however, pointed out to them that they should justify the certificate they have acquired through their improved work output.

Concluding, the Vice-Chancellor commended the following; two former Deans, Prof. M. Duwiejuah and Prof. T.C. Fleischer of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the former Provosts of College of Science, Prof. Aboagye Menyeh and Prof. R.K. Nkum, and the current Provost, Prof. K. Obiri Danso. The others who received commendation were Dr K. Nsiah and all lecturers who have taught in the programme.

Graduation Ceremony Held for Twenty Technicians of KNUSTDr K. Nsiah, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology

One of the Technicians Receiving His Certificate from Prof. K. Obiri Danso



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Mr Samuel Sarpong, Chief Transformation Officer of GCB Bank, presented the cheque for the amount to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. W.O. Ellis. The donation was in aid of a Students’ Complex project, at the College of Architecture and Planning. The project, when completed, would contain lecture rooms for students and offices for staff. According to him, discussions on this project

had gone on for a long time and he was glad the Bank had finally delivered on its promise.

For the uniBank presentation, this was done by Dr. Kwabena Duffuor Jnr, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), and it was in support of the Needy Students Fund of the Student’s Financial Services. The amount was to support the Students’ Financial Services for five years.

Banks Donate to KNUST

Two banks, gcb bank Limited and uniBank have presented cheques

covering two million cedis (one million cedis from each bank) to KNUST for some projects. The GCB presentation was done on December 2, 2014, while that of uniBank was on March 12, 2015. On both occasions, the Vice-Chancellor received the cheques on behalf of the university.

Dr. Kwabena Duffuor Jnr, COO, uniBank, Presenting the Cheque to VC

Mr. Samuel Sarpong, Chief Transformation Officer, GCB Bank, Presenting the Cheque to VC


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Delegation from GCB Bank Limited having a Discussion with the VC

Delegation from uniBank in a Group Photograph with VC and Some Staff of the University


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On monday, 17th November, 2014, Professors Samuel

Nii Odai and Sylvester Kojo Danour, at the Founders Week

Prof. Samuel Nii Odai and Prof. Sylvester Kojo Danour Inducted into the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences as Fellows

celebrations of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, were inducted as Fellows of the Academy. The ceremony, with the theme, “Transforming the

Economy of Ghana”, took place at the British Council Hall in Accra.

Professor Samuel Nii Odai, Pro–Vice Chancellor is a full Professor of Water Resources Engineering in the Department of Civil Engineering of KNUST, while Professor Sylvester Kojo Danour, a geophysicist, is the Head of Department of Physics.

Professor Samuel Nii Odai (left) and Professor Sylvester Kojo Danour (right) being Decorated by Emerita Prof. E. Ardayfio-Schandorf, Vice-President (Arts), Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS)

Professor Samuel Nii Odai (left) and Professor Sylvester Kojo Danour (second from left) Taking the Induction Oath of Fellowship of GAAS



STUDENTS’ FRONT


StudENtS’ FroNt

The department of Economics, Kwame Nkrumah University of

Science and Technology, in collaboration with HFC Bank, held its second Job Fair at the auditorium of the School of Business, on 9th April, 2015.

Department of Economics. This, she hoped, will provide the opportunity for firms to have easy access to the rich human resource of the Department, which could be hired so as to reduce training cost of staff of the firms.

She observed that it was also an opportunity for prospective graduates to meet with potential employers and to directly interact with them. The HoD added that graduates and students of the Department of Economics were well-trained and have the capacity to apply economic principles to enhance efficiency in any sector they were employed in.

Mr. Isaac Okyere Bimpeh, Manager of HFC Bank, KNUST Branch, observed that HFC intends to support the department in its programmes to produce the best of human

Department of Economics Holds Second Job Fair

capital for the financial sector, to the mutual benefit of KNUST and HFC. He announced that HFC had supported the Department with an amount of ten thousand cedis (Gh¢ 10,000.00) in 2015 and would continue to support the Department.

According to Mr. Bimpeh, plans were far advanced on further collaboration, where students from the department would undertake internships with HFC, in order to acquire practical work experience. He assured the students that the prospects ahead were bright, but it demanded their hard work and the support of all other stakeholders. “At HFC Bank, we say it is possible together”, he concluded.

Present at the Fair were representatives from Access Bank, Prestige Capital Limited, CAL Bank, UBA Bank and Odotobiri Rural Bank.

Dr. Sr. Eugenia Amporfu, the Head of Department of Economics, in her welcome address, explained that the Job Fair was to showcase the expertise of staff within the

Dr. Sr. Eugenia Amporfu, Head, Department of Economics

Mr. Isaac Okyere Bimpeh, Manager, HFC Bank, KNUST Branch


StudENtS’ FroNt

The ghana engineering Students Association (GESA), KNUST has

held a competition between the various departments of the College of Engineering (CoE)

dubbed ‘MAKERS’ FAIR.’ The competition which was held at the CoE auditorium brought out innovative and creative ideas of students in the College. This was a way of putting into

practice what they had been taught in class to solve the problems of society.

Seven teams from the various departments were involved in the Fair. Curly Q developed a software known as the Magic Map to assist students locate specific places (lecture rooms, halls, offices and others) on campus, via their mobile phones. POGEX recycled organic kitchen waste to generate biogas to produce energy (electricity). INGINEX designed a machine called ‘PySpy’, installed in open places to help detect fire outbreaks. CHEMVISION’s product, Plastogulf, will help manage

GESA Holds “Makers’ Fair” Competition

Some Staff of the CoE and Student Participants of the Fair

Dr. George Obeng, Director, TCC Flanked by Prof. F.W.Y. Momade (right) and Dr. Forkuo


StudENtS’ FroNt

plastic waste by dissolving them rather than burning them to pollute the environment.

DIVINE IDEA came up with a mobile application known as ‘Roomie’ which helps students to select rooms in halls and hostels before school re-opens. SMART TEAM exhibited a machine, Smart Thrash Bin, which automatically separates waste into different components for easy recycling. GAD came up with online application, UnEX, which helps students to access lecturers’ handouts and also serves as an interface between lecturers and students. In all, the DIVINE IDEA team

that designed the ‘ROOMIE’ software, emerged winners of the competition, while their counterparts GAD and POGEX placed second and third, respectively.

In an interview, Professor F.W.Y. Momade, one of the judges, praised the organisers for creating such a platform to showcase talent and innovation. He advised the students to do away with complacency and work assiduously by conducting research to help promote more innovative ideas.

Precious Eshun Baidoo, the President of GESA, indicated

that the idea of organising the competition was to demonstrate the practical application of what they had been taught in the classroom. He hinted that their major problem in organising the programme was getting sponsorship. He was hopeful that the success of the competition would attract sponsors to support future programmes of the college.

The competition was sponsored by the Technology Consultancy Centre (TCC) and the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID).

Professor S.I.K. Ampadu Presenting an Award to the Leader of the Winning Team, DIVINE IDEA


StudENtS’ FroNt

Ishawn iddrisu, an m.phil student of Human Nutrition and Dietetics of the

Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, KNUST has been given an award at the African Nutritional Epidemiology Conference (ANEC). The conference, held in Accra, in January 2015, was organised by the African Nutrition Society (ANS) on the theme: “Food Security, Challenges and Opportunities in Africa”.

Mr. Iddrisu was given a cash prize of two hundred US dollars ($200.00). As part of his award, his work has been published in the Africa Nutrition Matters Newsletter.

He presented two abstracts: an oral presentation on, “Assessing the Nutritional and Health Status of Children Under Five (5) Years Whose Parent(s) are Street Beggars in the Tamale Metropolis” and a poster on “Anti-Diabetic Effect of Dandelion Leaves and Root Powder in Type 2 Diabetic Patients – A Systematic Review”.

In an exclusive interview with the University Relations Office (URO), he said the conference gave him the opportunity to meet other students from other African countries. He expressed his appreciation to Dr. Reginald Annan and

KNUST Postgraduate Student Wins International Award

Professor Mrs. Ibok Oduro, for their support and guidance throughout his work.

The African Nutrition Society, established in 2008, seeks to promote professionalism, a strong sense of belonging and intellectual interactions across all regions, cultures and languages. It provides a scientific platform to promote standards of scientific training, attainment, research capability and sound professional practice and leadership, necessary to drive nutrition and health policies across countries.

Ishawn Iddrisu Being Congratulated for His Award


RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY

“Having centralised laboratories in at least each regional capital, would push research in Ghana forward, save resources and create opportunities for researchers.”

Honourable Mahama Ayariga

Commissioning of KNUST Central Lab.

TECHNOCRAT JULY 2014 - JUNE 2015 VOLUME 13SCiENCE aNd tECHNoloGY MaGaZiNE 43

Honourable mahama Ayariga, Minister of Science, Technology

and Innovation has called for the industrialisation and indigenisation of science and technology in Ghana. He bemoaned the importation of technology, which according to him, was costing our economy so much. He made the call at the commissioning of the Central Laboratory of KNUST on 6th May, 2015.

The newly-constructed Central Laboratory, housed in the

Champion Divine Building, which was constructed by Mr. Kwaku Frimpong, the Chief Executive Officer of the Clinic, cost six million euros.

Honourable Ayariga was of the view that until we indigenised, produced and exported technology to other people, we would continue to face many of the challenges that our economy was confronted with now. He challenged scientists to apply what they have learnt to resolve Ghana’s developmental challenges. He therefore

charged KNUST with the task of harnessing science and technology to resolve national problems.

He lauded the efforts of the University and Champion Divine Clinic for exhibiting the efficient use of resources in constructing the central laboratory. He noted that central laboratories were necessary and valuable since they enhanced collaboration, sharing and partnerships of scientists. To him, having centralised laboratories in at least each regional capital,

Honourable Mahama AyarigaCommissions KNUST Central Laboratory

Honourable Mahama Ayariga, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation


rESEarCH & tECHNoloGY

would push research in Ghana forward, save resources and create opportunities for researchers. He called for more support for research institutions.

Prof. Mahama Duwiejua, the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), said it was through team work that the country’s problems could be solved. He therefore called for collaborative work among science and social scientists.

Prof. Duwiejua stressed that it was incumbent on the University to produce high calibre and employable graduates with knowledge, skills and expertise for the socio-economic development of Ghana. He advocated the inclusion of what he termed “soft skills” such as creativity, innovation and communication which were crucial to the socio-economic development of Ghana and Africa.

FACILITIES IN KNUST CENTRAL LABORATORY

Chromatographic systems

• Gas chromtograph- electron ionisation mass spectrometer (GC-IE-MS)

• Gas chromtograph-Flame ionisation detector (GC-FID)

• Analytical High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)- adaptable for preparative work

• Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography- Electrospray ionisation- time of flight Mass Spectrometer (UHPLC-ESI-ToF-MS)

Various uses of the chromatographic systems• Identification of unknowns• Accurate mass

determination• Structural determinations• Quantitative analysis• Fatty acid analysis• Analysis of polcyclic

aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), Polycyclic Biphenyls (PCB) analysis, etc.

Spectroscopic analyses500MHz AVANCE III HD Nuclear Magnetic Resonance• Structure elucidation• Chemical composition

determination• Raw material fingerprinting• Quality assurance and

control, etc.

Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy – Flame and Graphite Furnace

• Water analyses (for determination of Ca, Mg, Fe, etc)

• Food analysis

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. William Otoo Ellis stated that research was the core activity of staff of KNUST and thus it was important that the University stayed abreast of the changes in the field of science and technology by constantly upgrading its research facilities. It was in this light therefore that the idea of a central laboratory was conceived in 2011. It was also to bring quality to the training of students and provide efficient service to industry and regulatory bodies, as well as other stakeholders.

Prof. Ellis added that a centralised laboratory would be the backbone to quality research to engender accelerated national development. He thanked Dr. Kwaku Frimpong, Chief Executive Officer of Champion Divine Clinic, for his continuous support to the University.

Prof. William Otoo Ellis, VC

Prof. Mahama Duwiejua, NCTE



• Animal feed analysis for various metals

• Analysis of additives in lubricating oils and greases (Ca, Na, Zn, Mg)

• Analysis of soils

• Clinical analysis of blood samples (whole blood, serum, plasma) for metals like Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe.

Attenuated Total Reflectance – Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy• Identification of unknowns

• Structure determination

Double BEAM UV/VIS Absorption Spectrophotometry

• Determination of various biomolecules in biological samples

Multi-mode Microplate Reader (fluorescence, absorbance and luminescence)

• Biochemical assays, including protein quantification

• Biotherapeutics• Cell biology• Cell-based assays

Satellite laboratories

In addition to the Centralised laboratory, there are three satellite laboratories in the Faculty of Pharmacy and

Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Clinical Microbiology and the Faculty of Agriculture.

The Automated greenhouse with greenline technology is made up of two houses (twin cabin). Each house consists of tables A and B as well as undertables for irrigation and fertigation programmes.

Some conditions which can be monitored and controlled in the greenhouse are; • Relative humidity• Temperature• Fertigation programme• Artificial lighting system

Honourable Mahama Ayariga Unveiling the Plaque at the Commissioning

Honourable Mahama Ayariga in a Group Photograph with Other Dignitaries and Some Staff of the University



The college of science Centralized Laboratory Project, under TALIF

has finally been completed. The instruments are now installed and are available in the Chemistry Department. The facility has the following instruments:

• Gas Chromatograph with Mass Spectrometer

• Gas Chromatograph with the following specific detectors:

(i) Flame Ionisation Detector

(ii) Flame Photometric Detector

(iii) Electron Capture Detector

• Ion exchange Chromatograh with Conductivity Detector

• High Performance Liquid Chromatograph with UV-Visible Detector

The following are also available;

• Liquid Chromatograph with Mass Spectrometer (LCMS/MS)

• Infrared Spectrometer

The facility will now be able to provide analytical services for the whole country and particularly the northern part of the country for the following compounds:

• All volatile organic compounds including alcohols, esters, flavors and aromas, organic acids, steroids, sulphur compounds, drugs, sugars, tranquilizers, halogenated compounds, essential oils, phenols, secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids. Others include Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Polycyclic Biphenyls (PCBs)

• Organochlorine Pesticides

• Organophosphorous

Pesticides and Carbamates

• Fatty Acids

• Natural Products

• Organic Gases such as Methane

• Anions and Cations in Water and other Environmental Media

• All organic compounds except the fluorescent compounds which can be taken care of by the Aflatoxin/Ochratoxin Laboratory of the Department of Food Science and Technology.

It is proposed that a strong collaboration be established between this facility and the University Centralised Laboratory to make KNUST a leading Centre of Excellence in Analytical Services, not only in the country, but in the West African sub-region. To keep the laboratory running, it will be ensured that there is availability of the appropriate consumables, especially the standard solutions and the certified reference materials.

College of Science Centralised LaboratoryDr. Ray B. Voegborlo

Analytical/Environmental and Instrumentation Section, Department of Chemistry, College of Science KNUST, Kumasi. Email: [email protected]



Universities across the world, are expected to address local, national

and international challenges. Each university has its own mandate, which would have emanated or been adapted from a national agenda. Public universities may have autonomy or some level of freedom to operate, but this does not make them immune to political control or interference. They are expected to operate within the sphere of the Acts of their establishment. These Acts define the mandate of each university and hence the expectation is that a national agenda will be fulfilled.

Publicly funded universities in Ghana are obligated to teach, conduct research and produce knowledge for the socio-economic development of the country. The economic growth of the country, thus depends, to a large extent, on the abilities of the universities to engage in research and development to advance technology, through innovations for solving problems and improving quality of life. The universities turn out graduates to provide the required high calibre manpower to spearhead the national developmental effort. Higher education institutions are being called on

to respond positively to the task of bringing solutions to health, social and economic challenges confronting nations - but can they rise up to the challenge?

The universities, through advancement of knowledge, influence policy, improve practice and contribute to the resolution of socio-economic challenges. Knowledge arising out of research is expected to solve problems or influence decisions, hence the increasing demand for knowledge utilisation. Hemsley-Brown (2001) argues that to facilitate research use, there is the need for strong leadership to create and develop an organisational culture that values learning and the insight that research provides. Our universities need strong leadership with high commitment to the national development agenda.

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) was originally known as the Kumasi College of Technology. It was started by a Government Ordinance on October 6, 1951. It became a full-fledged University on August 22, 1961

A Local Response to Global Challenges

Mr. Vincent Ankamah-Lomotey, University Relations Office, KNUST.

Hemsley-Brown, J. V. (2004). Facilitating research utilisation: a cross sector review of research evidence. International Journal of Public Sector Management 17, 6; 534-553

http://www.knust.edu.gh/





through an Act of Parliament. The Act establishing the University defined its mandate to provide higher education, by teaching, undertaking research, disseminating knowledge and fostering relationships with all major stakeholders. The strategic mandate of the University is derived from its name, Science and Technology.

There is growing pressure on universities to produce a kind of science, technology and innovation that can be used to meet societal needs. Industries, as stakeholders in higher education, are looking up to the universities to provide the type of knowledge that serves their needs. Landry et al. (2001) argue that ‘use of knowledge is increased when researchers focus their studies on the needs of users instead of focusing them only on the advancement of scholarly knowledge’. The future of higher education can be made brighter if the relationship between the universities and their stakeholders is improved. Industry, society in general and policy makers must see each other as partners so as to effectively address challenges facing humanity.

Nnsupa-KNUST’s Clean Water Project

The KNUST, since its inception, has been pursuing its vision of “Advancing knowledge in science and technology for sustainable development in Africa”. It has over the years taken steps to address some societal needs, through its research undertaken by the Technology Consultancy Centre (TCC), the Bureau for Integrated Rural Development (BIRD), Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into tropical medicine (KCCR) and other departments/research centres in the university.

It is a delight to see the impact of the university in the various spheres of national life since its inception. One specific example is the design of a user-friendly water filter called ‘Nnsupa Filter.’ This filter had been featured in Technocrat Volume 3 No 2&3 (2005). This write-up is to draw attention to the impact the filter has made in the quest of making potable water available.

The design and production of the Nnsupa filter has become part of the Millennium Village Projects across Africa, assisting in the eradication of Guinea worm and other water-borne conditions. It further intends to influence Non-Governmental Organisations, District Assemblies, government agencies involved in water and sanitation programmes, development partners, traditional authorities, social entrepreneurship programmes and others.

Another purpose of the research was to contribute to the achievement of some aspects of the Millennium Development Goals, through the production of simple cost-effective and efficient non-chemical ceramic water filters that will not cause any terminal illness to the end user, but help eradicate water-related diseases on the continent of Africa. The beneficiaries cut across board (rural and urban settings).

The targeted institutions include the Ministry of Health, Ministry

Landry, R., Amara, N., and Lamari, M. (1999). Utilisation of Social Science Research Knowledge in Canada. Research Policy 30 (2001) 333-349. Elsevier.

Various Samples of Nnsupa Water Filter

http://millenniumvillages.org/

http://millenniumvillages.org/



of Environment, Science and Technology and the Universities. These institutions are to champion the production and further improvement of the filters, to serve as a strong basis for effective policy formulation locally, nationally and internationally. In the University, it can help support policies in relation to academic promotions. It is hoped that the project would expand quickly, through a social entrepreneurship approach.

According to Mr. Michael Commey, an originator of the device, the filter forms part of the projects of the Millennium Village in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, Senegal and Kenya. Samples have been sent to these places and the feedback is very positive and encouraging. In order to improve on the filter, MSc students, locally and a Ghanaian PhD student in the United States of America whose field of operation is Burkina Faso, are conducting further research on it.

The initial research on the filters began in 2002 and ended in July 2004 but further work has continued to date. An average of 1,000 full systems per year is currently being produced, of which quite a sizeable number have been bought by University staff, and feedback has been collected. The research is gone past all the experimental stages and needs scaling up.

This is one of several examples of how universities can respond to societal needs. The future can be made brighter if higher education continues to respond to human needs through its research.



The virus research unit of the Department of Clinical Microbiology in

the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) of the KNUST has held a training workshop on viral cultures.

The workshop, led by Dr. Mohamed Mutocheluh was funded by the Leverhulme-Royal Society Africa Award Scheme, with support from Professor David Blackourn (University of Surrey, UK).

Dr. Theophilus B. Kwofie, a virologist, officially opened the workshop. Dr. Kwofie highlighted the history of viral cultures in Ghana and indicated that experiments involving viral cultures were extremely

expensive and commended Dr Mutocheluh and the project funders for organising the capacity building workshop for students and researchers of KNUST. He stated that theoretically, seventy percent (70%) of all communicable diseases reported at various hospitals in the country were caused by viruses, yet virus diagnosis via the laboratory had not been given the attention it deserved. He explained that most viral diseases were self-limiting, which meant that without treatment one could recover. He added however, that few viral infections could develop into critical conditions and some have no cure. He said virus isolation was currently used in studies such

as epidemic outbreaks of new diseases such as that caused by the Ebola virus.

Training Workshop on Viral Cultures

Dr. Mutocheluh, on his part, hinted that apart from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, only his laboratory offered virus culture training to students in Ghana. He said over 25 postgraduate

Dr. Mutocheluh in a Demonstration to Participants at the Workshop

Dr. Mohamed Mutocheluh



students applied to take part in the workshop but only 12 were chosen, due to the size of the laboratory and the high cost of training. According to him, human or animal tissue culture was not used in routine laboratory tests but only for research purposes and as such, many students and researchers did not have adequate practical training in the field, which necessitated the workshop. The trainees included lecturers, biomedical scientists and postgraduate students.

Trainees were taught basic cell culture techniques and their significance. Professor David Blackbourn generously donated a ‘weak virus’ called chandipura for the training and for research purposes. The trainees cultured mouse

fibroblasts cell lines and infected the cells with the chandipura virus. Three days later, the virus-containing media were processed and the viruses quantified using the plaque assay. Dr Mutocheluh’s team has been using this technique to quantify viruses for the past nine months.

Dr. Mutocheluh explained that the virus research laboratory had received equipment worth £30,000 from the Leverhulme-Royal Society Africa Award Scheme in the past three years and that had made it possible to upgrade the laboratory to almost international standard. The laboratory also received equipment from the KNUST

Central Laboratory Project. Beside tissue and viral cultures, the laboratory also offers training in molecular biology techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), molecular cloning, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), RNA and DNA purification and quantification. Dr Mutocheluh hopes the ‘Western blot technique’, which allows researchers to isolate and quantify proteins from tissue would soon become a reality in KNUST.

Dr Mutocheluh announced that Professor David Blackbourn and his team were to arrive in KNUST on June 2015 to conduct a training workshop on ‘Luciferase reporter gene assay’. He noted that students from other faculties within KNUST and other universities in Ghana were welcome to the Virology Laboratory to perform experiments for their research.

Some of the participants in a practical session



On tuesday 14th and Friday 17th April, 2015, some members

of the Medical Research Team of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, organised a health talk for the entire staff of the Maintenance Unit and the University Printing Press, UPK.

As part of its on-going research on diabetes, a study was undertaken to find the prevalence of diabetes and some related diseases in the workers. This involved using a questionnaire to find some information about the respondents, measuring blood pressure, taking some anthropometric measurements, as well as drawing blood samples for the measurement of fasting blood sugar, and lipid profile.

Consultations were then made with the management of the two units for a forum to inform the workers on the outcome and importance of the study. The topic for the two meetings was “Listen to Your Body’. The main speaker was Mrs F.O. Mensah and was supported by Dr K. Nsiah. Present at the ceremony were the Head of Department, Dr (Mrs) Anthonia Tetteh,a Technical Instructor, Mr Nat Yawson, a National Service person, Miss Regina Kwarteng and two final year students, Wilhemina Issabella Walters and Francis Quist.

The talk focused on the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, like hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, stroke and diabetes mellitus. Mrs. Mensah dealt with some of the

factors that were responsible for the non-communicable diseases, like genetics, aging, gender and lifestyle. Under lifestyle, factors like type, quantity, quality and timing of diet; physical activity/inactivity, smoking and drinking habits were mentioned.

With regard to hypertension, the causes, the various categories and some primary preventive measures were disclosed. She indicated that some of the clinical outcomes of undiagnosed and untreated hypertension are heart diseases, stroke and kidney damage.

On diabetes, the audience were made aware of the main diagnostic criterion, based on the level of fasting blood sugar. The types of diabetes and their causes were covered, likewise the common symptoms, like frequent thirst, frequent urination and frequent hunger. Other signs include fatigue, weight loss and blurred vision.

Continuing Mrs. Mensah said that untreated or poorly controlled diabetes will result in various types of complications. One type of complication, attributed to some defects developed in large blood vessels (macrovascular complications), leads to cardiovascular disorders like heart disease and stroke.

CAn-Lab Reaches Out to Maintenance and UPK workersDr. K. Nsiah, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, KNUST.

Mrs. F.O. Mensah Making a Presentation to the Staff of Maintenance Unit



On the other hand, there are other complications that affect very small blood vessels (microvascular complications). These affect the nerves (neuropathy), the eyes (retinopathy) and the kidneys (nephropathy).

Having given the background information, Mrs. Mensah made a summary of the trend of the findings of all the measured parameters. According to her, there were a few of the participants whose blood pressure was so high that they had to be referred to their doctors. Two of them had to be detained, for their blood pressure to be lowered.

The audience were given the opportunity to ask questions, and the responses were provided by Mrs Mensah and Dr Nsiah. Some of the questions asked were;

• Which specific foods do we need to eat to avoid obesity?

• What do we do in cases of hypotension?

• Is frequent urination specific to diabetes?

• Can’t we attribute the diseases discussed to science, as these diseases were absent in the past?

• Is it in obese people alone that cholesterol levels are high?

• How do you increase your sugar level when it is very low?

• What happens to people who do not sleep immediately after eating, but rather watch television?

• Can high water intake cause any problem?

Responses to some of the questions

Before responding to the questions, Dr Nsiah cautioned that the group was not there to usurp the role of clinicians. Explanations will be provided for them to consult their doctors on what to do.

On hypotension, Dr. Nsiah indicated there are several causes. It could be due to some drugs. For example, some people who use some anti-hypertensive drugs could become hypotensive. Low heart beat, dehydration, too much bleeding, bacterial infection of blood and some allergic reactions can also cause hypotension. These examples show that how to manage

hypotension depends on the cause.

On the question of whether water intake could cause any problem, he responded that too much of everything is bad, so taking too much water could be harmful. The case of athletes who take so much water, in an attempt to replace water lost during active training was mentioned. Such athletes, as they sweat during training or competition, lose both water and salt. If in an attempt to compensate for the losses through sweat, an athlete drinks only water, the end result will be over-hydration, that will result in the extracellular fluid having a low content of sodium. This will result in water moving from extracellular fluid to cells, causing the cells to swell. If such a situation occurs in the cells of the brain, it would be disastrous; it could lead to nausea, vomiting, confusion, headache, coma and even death. Other noticeable signs associated with overhydration are weakness of the muscles and irregular contraction of muscles (spasms) and seizures.



Background

One of the strategies KNUST has adopted to advance the

research enterprise across the whole institution is to build its research administration and management capacity. Knowing its critical role in research, the university took steps to develop this function and the required expertise, through the establishment of the Office of Grants & Research (OGR) in February 2013, under the Office of the Vice-Chancellor. This was facilitated by a grant from the USA National Institutes of Health, under the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI). This Office is

responsible for facilitating and coordinating grant and research administration in KNUST.

The office provides administrative support for faculty, staff, and students in their effort to secure, and manage research funding in the most accountable and efficient manner. This is done in collaboration with the Colleges.

Vision

The vision of OGR is to be a centre of excellence at KNUST for research support services, facilitating a stimulated, accountable and expanded research enterprise at the University and beyond.

Mission

The mission of OGR is to provide the needed infrastructure and training to ensure the widespread availability of support and expertise in research administration and management at the University.

To achieve set goals, OGR seeks to:

• Build research management expertise of staff

• Establish and standardise processes and practices in research administration

• Address the needs of researchers throughout the

Office of Grants and ResearchMs. Nadia Tagoe and Mrs. Florence A. Aboh



research process

• Provide the necessary training for researchers

• Assist in obtaining the necessary resources for research

• Facilitate valuable partnerships that will enhance the University’s research agenda

• Ensure protection of the university’s interests

• Ensure accountability of research funds

Core Values

Professionalism; i.e. meet clients’ expectations to the highest standards.

Good Stewardship; i.e. plan and manage resources effectively to achieve set goals.

Integrity; i.e. adherence to moral and ethical principles in the discharge of functions

Functions

The OGR supports staff throughout the research process. Specific functions include the following:

• Identification of Funding Opportunities:

Our administrators are constantly identifying funding

opportunities and disseminating these opportunities to staff on the office website (ogr.knust.edu.gh) and through monthly bulletins.

• Proposal Development Support:

The Office supports researchers and staff in preparing proposals and budgets. It also reviews research proposals prior to submission and makes appropriate recommendations, while ensuring that they conform to institutional policies and sponsor requirements.

• Grants Management:

If an application is successful, the office helps review and interpret award terms and conditions prior to acceptance and serves as a liaison with sponsors for award requirements and management matters. The office provides implementation support by clarifying administrative and financial regulations and requirements, monitoring compliance, providing reporting support, solving problems that may arise during the grant period, and ensuring that awards are closed out appropriately. Research and Grants-Related Policies and Guidelines

The Office identifies required policies and guidelines that will help govern and guide

the conduct of research and management of grants in the university; and works with existing units to develop, review or update such documents.

• Training:

The OGR plays a lead role in training researchers and administrators by identifying training needs and organising the appropriate training sessions on topics such as research methodology, proposal writing and grant administration.

• Research Information Management

The Office serves as a research and grants information resource for faculty and staff. It is responsible for maintaining research-related records on grants, funders and institutional registration with external funding agencies among others. The Office also maintains templates and other resources that can be used by researchers during the research and grant process.

• Facilitation of Collaborations

The office promotes team building, research capacity building and mentoring in the university by linking up researchers to form diverse and multi-disciplinary research teams.



Some Recent Activities

Training and Capacity Building

The OGR continues to build capacity in the management of research projects and writing winning proposals. The Office has provided training for researchers, research administrators and accountants across the university, including conducting about ten workshops so far on various topics. The OGR also collaborated with QAPU to organise the 3rd KNUST Summer School in 2013 on the theme, ‘Repositioning KNUST as a Global Institution: Effective Research Management as a Tool’.

Grant Management Support

The Office has provided support to researchers and research teams from all the Colleges, in proposal development and grants management. OGR has also reviewed proposals and offered advice on grantsmanship and compliance. The office has processed sub-awards and serves as the custodian of the university’s institutional registrations with funding bodies such as EU, NIH, Wellcome Trust, etc.

Outreach to Colleges and Departments

Staff at OGR continue to interact with the university community on research management

and training. The Office has been invited to participate in workshops, retreats and other activities of some units including the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Economics and College of Engineering.

Provision of Research Information and Resources

The OGR has developed a website for staff to familiarise themselves with its operations and is used as a medium for disseminating research information and related resources. The content of the website includes research-related news articles, funding opportunity announcements, highlights on researchers and research projects, sample proposals, training resources, etc.

Grant-Related Policies and Guidelines

As part of efforts to strengthen grants management at KNUST, the OGR has worked with QAPU to develop draft policies for review by the management of the University. These include Indirect Cost Rate Policy, Proposal and Awards Registration Policy, Effort and Compensation Policy and Record Retention Policy. Once approved, these policies will become working documents that will provide guidance for researchers.

The Office is currently in the process of developing Principal Investigator’s (PIs) and Research Administrator’s (RAs) Handbooks for PIs and RAs respectively.

Collaborations and Visits

To build capacity, the OGR has collaborated with other institutions, including the University of Michigan, Texas State University and the University of Ibadan. Staff of OGR have also visited the Office of Research Innovation and Development (ORID) at the University of Ghana, Stellenbosch University and the University of Botswana, over the past two years. The office has also hosted other universities including the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria (FUNAAB) and the Garden City University College (GCUC), Kumasi who visited the office to explore collaboration opportunities. The Office also conducted a training workshop at University of Cape Coast (UCC) on Grant Applications, to expose faculty at UCC to research grant application processes with a special focus on the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The training was for Research Coordinators from the various Faculties and Schools. This was at the invitation of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC). OGR continues to provide support to DRIC.



OGR Network of Offices at KNUST

In order to effectively support staff research, the Office of Grants and Research, has begun the process of setting up satellite offices in all the Colleges, to liaise with the central office to lend support to researchers with the development of proposals, facilitation of institutional

letters, interpretation of sponsor requirements, processing of funding awards and other administrative processes. Research Administrators in the College offices have the responsibility of taking charge of requests from researchers and coordinating the processes with the central office. This initiative will bring the support we offer closer to the researchers.

The College of Engineering (CoE) has already taken the lead in this direction by setting up the College Office of Grants and Research and recruited a Research Administrator to oversee the day to day activities of the office. The CoE Office started operation in March 2014, placed under the Office of the Provost and serves as a link between the College of Engineering and OGR. So far, the Office has linked up with OGR to organise training programmes for staff, oriented staff of the College on the availability of research administration support services, provided support for submitted proposals in the College and produced the College’s first Research Report. OGR is working on facilitating the establishment of other satellite offices in all the other Colleges.

OFFICE OF GRANTSAND RESEARCH, KNUST

WHO WE AREOffice of Grants and Research (OGR) is the university’s central research administrative unit which works with the colleges to provides pre and post-award support to staff engaged in grants and sponsored research projects. OGR provides the needed resources and training to ensure the widespread availability of support and expertise in research administration and management.

WHAT WE DOIdentify research grant opportunities and make it available.

Support researchers and staff in preparing proposals and budgets.

Administer grant documents, contracts, and subcontracts that support sponsored research on behalf of the university.

Manage researchers' compliance with sponsor, institutional and national requirements.Manage researchers' compliance with sponsor, institutional and national requirements.

Maintain proper records on grants in the University.

Provide training for researchers, research administrators and other support staff.

Provide guidelines, templates and other resources that can be used by researchers during proposal development.

OUR CORE VALUES

For Funding Opportunities and Other Resources, visit: ogr.knust.edu.gh

CONTACT US

Telephone: 03220 - 62184 | 62185Fax: 03220 - 62185E-mail: [email protected]: http://ogr.knust.edu.gh

Office Location:First Floor, Great Hall(Former Examinations Office)KNUST Campus, Kumasi

Postal Address:Office of Grants & Research, Office of the Vice Chancellor,PMB - UPO, Kumasi, Ghana

Office Location:First Floor, Great Hall (Former Examination Office)KNUST CampusTelephone: (+233) 3220 62184 (+233) 3220 62185Fax: (+233) 3220 62185E-mail: [email protected] Website: ogr.knust.edu.gh

mailto:[email protected]



TECHNOCRAT SPORTS


tECHNoCrat SportS

The directorate of Sports of KNUST, led by Mr. J.Y. Adu, has

presented two trophies to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor William Otoo Ellis. The trophies were won by the contingent that represented KNUST at the Twenty-third (23rd) Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA) Games, held in Cape Coast in June, 2014.

Mr. Adu noted that it was obligatory for the directorate to officially inform the Vice-Chancellor of what transpired during the games and to present the trophies to him, as well. He said the KNUST team emerged the overall winners of women’s football and lawn tennis. They also bagged a total of thirty-seven (37) medals,

made up of four (4) gold, eight (8) silver and twenty-five (25) bronze. He added that Professor K.K. Adarkwa, former Vice-Chancellor and Mr. Kwaku Prempeh, Chief Sports Coach, were also honoured for their meritorious services to GUSA.

Mr. Adu revealed that the KNUST team started on a bright note but a mishap befell them, when Abdul Fatau Seidu, a final year student of the Department of Land Economy, one of the players in the handball team, passed away during the games. He indicated that even though the demise of Abdul was a big blow, the team gathered courage to give off its best, culminating in a better performance, as compared to the previous GUSA games.

KNUST Sports Directorate Presents Trophies to the Vice-Chancellor

The Vice-Chancellor welcomed and congratulated the team for emerging winners in the women football and lawn tennis games. He expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and the team, and advised the directorate to learn lessons from the fatal incident that happened during the games. He suggested that the directorate should consider medical check-up for the contingent before camping for games.

The Sports Directorate of KNUST in a Group Photograph with the Vice-Chancellor

Trophies Won During the Games



KNOW WHERE THEY ARE

This column is dedicated to the staff of Office of Grant and Research (OGR).

TECHNOCRAT JULY 2014 - JUNE 2015 VOLUME 13SCiENCE aNd tECHNoloGY MaGaZiNE 61

KNow wHErE tHEY arE

Prof. Donkor, Director of OGR is a professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He has previously served as Pro Vice-Chancellor of KNUST and Provost of the College of Health Sciences. He has also served as Vice-Dean for the School of Medical Sciences (SMS), and

Head of Department of Surgery. He has contributed immensely to various sectors in KNUST. He initiated the residency programme in maxillofacial surgery at KNUST/KATH and has also contributed to the training of several Ear Nose and Throat, Ophthalmic, and

General Surgeons at KNUST/KATH. He has collaborated extensively with local and international researchers on a number of projects, serving as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Investigator. He is currently the PI on the National Institutes of Health-funded Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) project on Emergency Medicine. His research interests include global health, medical education, injury, emergency care, cleft lip and palate, human resources in health, open educational resources and head and neck malignancy. Prof. Donkor has also served on several international, national and local bodies including, Advisory Council of the Center for Global Health, University of Michigan, US. For more details on Prof Donkor, refer to Technocrat Vol 9 & 10, 2011/2012, pages 17-23.

PROFESSOR PETER DONKOR, Director of OGR

MS. NADIA TAGOE

QUALIFICATIONS: MSc Management and Implementation of Development Projects, University of Manchester, UK; Diploma, Financial Management, ACCA, UK. Project Management; BSc Building Technology, KNUST.

DATE OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE UNIVERSITY: February 2013POSITION IN OGR: Grants and Research ManagerEMAIL: [email protected] / [email protected]

Email: [email protected]





KNow wHErE tHEY arE

MRS. FLORENCE A. ABOH

QUALIFICATIONS: MBA (Strategic Management) KNUST, B.Ed

Secretarial and Management University of Education, Winneba

DATE OF EMPLOYMENT: September 2006 POSITION IN OGR: Principal Admin. Assistant/Research Administrator

MESSAGE: Face new research challenges, seize new research opportunities, test your resources against the unknown and in the process, discover your own unique potential and the ability to help solve societal problems.

EMAIL: [email protected]/[email protected]

MR. BERNARD ASAMOAH BARNIE

QUALIFICATIONS: MA Information Studies, University of Ghana, Legon; BA Information Studies University of Ghana.

DATE OF EMPLOYMENT: March 2013

POSITION IN OGR: Research AdministratorMESSAGE: I am proud and privileged to be part of a team that supports researchers in making the world a better place. Their success is our success and this is what we strive for.

EMAIL: [email protected]

MS. BARBARA GYAPONG-KORSAH

QUALIFICATIONS: MSc. Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation, KNUST; BSc Chemistry/Biology, University of Cape Coast.

DATE OF EMPLOYMENT: 2014

POSITION IN OGR: Research Administrator for the College of Engineering

MESSAGE: It is my hope and wish that the commitment and energy of our faculty members towards research, will help solve real local problems and also highlight KNUST’s reputation as a world class research institution.EMAIL: [email protected]





CAn–LAB Clinical Analysis Laboratory Department in charge of operation: Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Services provided Blood biochemistry Liver function tests Kidney function tests Lipid profile (Triacylglycerols, Cholesterol, LDL, HDL)

Haematology Haemoglobin level White blood cells Blood smear for malaria parasites Sickling status test, etc

Other tests Fasting/random blood sugar Uric acid Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity Blood electrolytes Pregnancy test Hepatitis B screening, etc

Do you want to have a reliable medical check-up?Do you require health screening for a group?CAn-LAB is the place to go!

Location: Commercial Area, Bomso Roundabout, KNUST

C University Relations Office Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi www.knust.edu.gh

Documents

TECHNOCRAT MAGAZINE 2015 EDITION