Member
Prof. Daniels Obeng-Ofori
Daniels OBENG-OFORI is a Professor of Applied Biology and Agricultural Entomology and a distinguished University Administrator. Born in Berekum in the Bono Region of Ghana, Professor Obeng-Ofori obtained BSc. honours degree in Agriculture from the University of Ghana, Legon in 1982 and did his national service at the Agricultural Research Centre, Kade in 1982.
He was appointed Teaching/Research Assistant at the Department of Crop Science, Legon in 1983. He did his MPhil and PhD degrees in Applied Biology and Agricultural Entomology, respectively at the University of Cambridge, UK from 1986 to 1990.
His research interests are mostly centred on agriculture, chemical ecology, and the management of agricultural pests for sustainable crop production, postharvest technology, and public health.
He was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi, Kenya from 1991-1994 where he worked on the chemical ecology of the desert locust.
Apart from scholarly publications, a patent on their pioneer work titled “Gregarisation-disrupting factors in a novel approach of controlling locusts and grasshoppers” was awarded to ICIPE in 2000. In 1994, Prof. Obeng-Ofori won the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship at the Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry and Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. Professor Obeng-Ofori returned to Ghana and joined the Department of Crop Science, University of Ghana, Legon in 1996 as a lecturer.
By dint of hard work, he was promoted to Senior lecturer in 1997, Associate Professor in 2001 and Professor in 2004. During his career at Legon from 1996-2012, he held several administrative positions including Head of the Department of Crop Science, Vice-Dean of the School of Agriculture, Acting Dean, Deputy Provost of College of Agriculture & Consumer Sciences, Coordinator of the African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS), West Africa Sub-Regional Centre. Professor Obeng-Ofori was the Foundation Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani, Ghana from 2012-2016.
He has been the Vice-Chancellor of the Catholic University of Ghana (CUG) since 2016. As an astute academic, he has travelled extensively as a visiting scholar and conducted research and participated in numerous national and international scientific conferences in Africa, Europe, and the USA.
As a distinguished Researcher, Professor Obeng-Ofori has published widely and has successfully supervised several undergraduate dissertations, master’s, and PhD theses. He reviews scientific manuscripts for publication in 35 scholarly journals and is a member of many scientific and professional bodies.
He has been a Team Leader in many funded research projects at UG, Legon, UENR and CUG. He has served as a consultant for several local and international institutions such as the World Bank, FAO, UN, UNIDO, USAID, DFID and NAB. At the National and International Levels, Professor Obeng-Ofori has held various positions including the President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Legon; President of Ghana Science Association (GSA), Accra branch and the National President of GSA.
He was also the President of the Entomological Society of Ghana (ESG) and the African Association of Insect Scientists (AAIS). Professor Obeng-Ofori is the first African Council Member of the International Congress of Entomology (ICE) and a member of the Permanent Committee of the Working Conference of Stored Product Protection.
Professor Obeng-Ofori has won several academic awards from the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge and the American Biographical Institute, USA. Prof. Obeng-Ofori was among the top World Scientists in 2021 and 2022 rankings and ranked 19th in Ghana. He is a recipient of ICIPE’s 50th Anniversary Achievement Award in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2020; College of Basic & Applied Sciences, University of Ghana Meritorious Award, July 2021; Distinguished Achievement Award by the Berekum Traditional Council and Team Branding in 2022.
He served as the Humboldt Ambassador Scientist for Ghana from 2016-2019. He was the Chairman of the Council of Independent Universities in Ghana from 2019 to 2021.
Also, he has been the Chairman of the Berekumman Citizens Association since 2018. Undoubtedly, Professor Obeng-Ofori has made an outstanding contribution to human resource development, research and capacity building in Ghana as a teacher, researcher and university administrator. He is the Grand President of the Sunyani Grand Commandery of the Knights of St. John International.