Former Minister for Ports, Habours and Railways and current Board Chairman of Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, Professor Christopher AmeyawAkumfi is one of the NPP stalwarts expected to be vying for the National Chairmanship position when nominations for the contest are opened. Professor AMEYAW Akumfi who is also former Minister of Education and former Member of Parliament for Techiman North brings on board, Unity among the rank and file of the party, Commitment and Discipline to a resound victory for the party in the 2024 elections. Professor AmaeyawAkumfi has held and served the party at various levels including serving as the backbone of the Anti- UniGov Movement on the campus of University of Cape Coast through to PFP and now NPP. He is widely remembered for the role he played in the creation of the Brong East Region.
Here is a detailed profile of Professor Christopher AMEYAW Akumfi.
PROFILE OF PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER AMEYAW AKUMFI
Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfiis an educationist and politician. He was born on January, 21st, 1945 in Techiman into the OheneAmeyaw royal family to his father, Nana AkumfiAmeyaw III, then the Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area and the Chief proponent for the creation of the erstwhile Brong-Ahafo Region in the year 1959.
EDUCATION
He had his primary and middle school education at Nkwaeso and Techiman Methodist schools respectively. His sterling academic performance earned him admission into Adisadel College in Cape-Coast in 1959 for his GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels before entering the University of Ghana in 1965, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science (Zoology & Biochemistry) in 1968, Bachelor of Science (BSc Hons) in 1969 and MSc (Zoology) in 1970. Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi pursued further education at the University of Michigan in 1972 and obtained a Master of Science (MSc.) in Zoology and PhD in Zoology in 1976.
ACADEMIA
Prof.Ameyaw-Akumfi is well respected in academia with over thirty (30) years involvement, lectureship and evolutionary educational policy and reforms. He started his career as a young lecturer at the University of Cape Coast in 1970. Inspired by his penchant for success, he rose through the ranks within a short space of time to become Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor and full professorship in 1991. He was appointed as the Head of the Zoology Department in 1987 and in the same year, became the coordinator for the Semester and Course Unit System, which was first introduced into university education in Ghana by the University of Cape Coast and integrated into the academic registry of Universities in the country. He coordinated the production of academic programmes for the University College of Education Winneba (UCEW). He was the leader of delegation of UCC/UEW to the University of Eastern Washington, USA, for the establishment of linkage and exchange programmes for the benefit of faculty and students. Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi was appointed a policy advisor to the Ministry of Education and was a member of the Education Minister’s team to North Carolina State University for the establishment of linkages among universities within the ‘Triangle’.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi has over 26 publications made up of peer-reviewed technical reports and peer-reviewed journal articles in reputable international journals. He has organized panels, and presented academic papers at a number of national and international conferences and consulted for renowned national and international institutions. During Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi’s over forty (40) years impactful career as an academic, a consultant, a politician and a farmer, he has held responsible position. He was a Research Assistant at the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Michigan where he had earlier served as Teaching Assistant. He also served as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Ghana. Between 1991 and 1993, Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi served as the Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University Coast, a responsibility which will later be reposed on him for the period 1996 to 1998 due to his quintessential leadership prowess. He was a Senior lecturer, Head of Department, Associate Professor and Professor at the Zoology Department of the University of Cape Coast. He was appointed Pro Vice Chancellor for 1993 to 1995 and Acting Pro Vice Chancellor in 1996 at the University of Cape Coast.
AWARDS/HONOURS
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi is a proud recipient of many academic awards and honours including; university of Ghana Scholar, 1969-1979, African Graduate (AFGRAD) Scholar, University of Michigan, USA, 1972-1979, Senior Research Fellow, Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship at University College of North Wales Bengor,1994-1995, Fulbright Scholar-Marine Research Laboratory, Bodega Bay University of California, Davis, 1989-1990. He also featured in the prestigious ‘WHO IS WHO’ publication in 1986. He has supervised several Master of Science (MSc) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) thesis and projects respectively and assessed a number of academic and professional papers for promotion.
MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi served as a reputable member of national and international professional/learned bodies such as being a member and vice president of Ghana Institute of Biology, member; Ghana Science Association, member; West African Science Association, member; The Crustacean Association, member; The New York Academy of Sciences, member; International Association of Astocologits and member of the American Society of Zoologist.
NATIONAL SERVICE
He served on several boards and committees including; National Committee on Fisheries, National and International Oceanographic Committee, Universities Rationalization Sub Committee on academic structure, Chairman, Editorial Committee of the ‘Ghana Ocean’, a publication in partnership with the International Oceans Committee, member of Board of Directors of New Times Corporation, Chairman, Natural Sciences Committee of the National Commission on UNESCO and Chairman of Sunyani Polytechnic Council.His experience in evolutionary education policy and reforms earned him the position of Director General of Ghana Education Service (GES), from 1998 to 2000.
POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
With their strong Dankwa-Busia-Dombobackround, the late Profesor D.K. Agyemang, Hon. Kwamena Bartels and Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi formed the backbone of the Anti-UniGov Movement on UCC campus. This and his involvement in the activities of the Popular Front Party (PFP) in 1979, marked beginning of the political career of Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi. He contested the primaries for the selection of a parliamentary candidate for the then Techiman constituency. Although he lost the primaries narrowly (by one vote), his active participation in the campaign of the PFP culminated in party winning the seat. In 1992, he contested as the parliamentary candidate for Techiman North, on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which he lost. He again contested on the ticket of NPP in Techiman North in 2004 and lost again. In 2008, he contested the third time and won the Techiman North seat for the first time for NPP. He was appointed by the former President John Agyekum Kufuor to serve in his administration as Minister of Education, 2001 to 2003 and Minister of Ports Habours and Railways, 2003 to 2009. He has been a member of the NPP National Council since 2017 till date. He is also a member of the NPP National Council of Elders. He was the ranking member, Parliamentary Committee for Science Environment and Technology. He has served on several committees of the party with commitment and dedication. To date, Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), having been appointed by President Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo in 2017. He is also member of the Ministerial advisory boards of the Ministries of Transport and Tourism from 2017 till date.
BONO PATRIOT
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi was the Executive Secretary to the Coalition of Chiefs for the Creation of the Bono East Region. He was the lead campaigner, the face of the processes, programmes and the rallying call which culminated in the creation of the new region in 2019, replicating his father’s footsteps earlier in 1959. After the reorganization of the erstwhile Brong-Ahafo Region into Ahafo, Bono and Bono East Regions, he was appointed as the Chairman of the organizing committee of the grand farewell and departure ceremony for three regions under the theme: Unity in Separation for Development’. Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi is the Ahenemahene of the TechimanTraditonal Council with the stool name, Ohenaba Twi AkumfiAmeyaw. He has mentored many professionals and entrepreneurs through inspirational leadership and career coaching. He is a farmer and a firm adherent to tradition, culture and family life.
