Amos Mensah

Faculty Biography

Dr. Amos MensahCurrent addressKNUST-Kumasi, GhanaDept of Agric. Economics, Agribusiness and ExtensionEmail: amensah@knust.edu.ghSkype: ghanaba-amos       Permanent addressPost Office Box KF 2509Koforidua, GhanaEmail: mensahamos@yahoo.co.ukEmail: ghanaba.amos@gmail.com ProfileDr. Amos Mensah is currently a lecturer at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of KNUST, Ghana. He has over 15 years of professional experience in the agriculture sector, working as a consultant, researcher, and public advocate for policy improvement geared towards inclusive rural development. He is an experienced and seasoned Agricultural Economist with special skills in Efficiency and Productivity analysis along agricultural value chains. Dr. Mensah’s varied competencies (in academic, research, policy, and social engagements) have enabled him to work across different sectors locally and internationally. He has a good understanding of the agricultural sector and its development challenges in Africa, (such as those affecting technology adoptions, dissemination, and their impact on technical areas of agricultural productivity, nutrition, poverty alleviation, and income generation in rural areas). He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the Georg-August University Göttingen in Germany. He also graduated with a Master of Science degree with a specialization in Tropical and International Agriculture from the same university. Prior to these, he graduated with Bachelor of Science Honours (B.Sc. Hons.) degrees in agriculture from KNUST, Ghana. Past and current works of Dr. Mensah demonstrate his knowledge of the varied issues affecting African agricultural development, agricultural research, education, science, and technology. His recent publications (both pear reviewed and blog posts) highlight his deep knowledge and expertise in these areas. In all his writings, he has demonstrated the important linkage between the areas of productivity growth and practical policy reforms to stimulate job creation and poverty alleviation in an agrarian economy like Ghana. Dr. Mensah has strong econometric modeling skills in analyzing complex development policy scenarios as well as being able to communicate clearly results to both academic and non-academic stakeholders. His background in agriculture and economics makes him an expert in all key dimensions of agriculture and its related development issues. He is therefore highly skilled and experienced in agriculture & agribusiness value chain analysis, project development, and development of agricultural business models through various short courses undertaken and practical experience of assisting various agencies to develop agricultural projects and business models.SPECIALIZATION: RESEARCH & TEACHING PUBLICATIONS (Peer Reviewed Journals) http://www.afjare.org/resources/issues/vol_11_no2/2%20Mensah%20%20Brummer.pdf   TECHNICAL REPORTGhana Baseline Report on Green Innovation Centers for the Agriculture and Food Sector Program Submitted to GIZ – Germany/GIC- Accra Ghana. WORKING PAPERS Online Articles on Agricultural Development & Policy Issueshttp://ghanatalksbusiness.com/news/ghana/item/3313-rice-production-in-ghana-bottlenecks-and-scope-for-improvementshttp://ghanatalksbusiness.com/research-analysis/economic-issues/item/3000-resuscitating-ghana-economy-the-role-of-enhancing-agricultural-productivityhttp://www.thelead.com.gh/turning-waste-to-gold-a-sustainable-green-growth-approach-to-tackle-ghanas-waste-problems/ Blog-links PRESENTATIONS, CONFERENCES & SEMINARSACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS2010-2014Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics (Dr. Sc. Agr.). Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development. Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Germany  Specialization:Agricultural Economics (Impact Evaluation, Efficiency and Productivity Analysis, Agricultural Market Analysis, and Rural Development Economics). Research topic:Performance of the Fruit Crop Industry in Ghana: Empirical Results and  Policy ImplicationsMaster of Science (M.Sc.): Tropical and International Agriculture. Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Germany  Specialization:Socioeconomics of Rural Development and Policy Analysis. Research topic:Farmers’ Participation in Credit Markets and its Impact on Adoption of Agricultural Technology in Central Sulawesi-Indonesia.      Bachelor of Science (Honours): Agriculture. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Kumasi, Ghana.  Specialisation:Plant breeding and Agronomy. Research topic:Evaluation of F2 and F3 Generations of an Inter-specific cross of Tomato (i.e. L. Pimpinellifolium (CH) * NR46).    Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSSC) Pope John Secondary School, Koforidua - Ghana.PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Oct. 2016 -  To DateLecturer, Dept. of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness & ExtensionResponsibilities:Oct. 2016 – Dec. 2016Consultant (Team member): Concern Universal. Evaluation Study for the Sorghum Sub-Sector in GhanaResponsibilities:Nov. 2015 – 30.04.2016  Consultant (National Expert): GIZ Multi-Country Baseline Study: Innovation Centers for Agricultural and Food Sector – Ghana Green Innovation Center.Responsibilities:Nov. 2014 – Oct. 2016Post-Doc Research Fellow. Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development. Georg-August Universität Göttingen, GermanyResponsibilities:Conduct Research. Teaching Assistants. Supervision of thesis and seminar work of Bachelor and Master students2010-2014Doctoral research fellow (Ph.D. research). Student research assistant.Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development. Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany.Responsibilities:Conduct Ph.D. Research. Teaching Assistants. Supervision of thesis and seminar work of Bachelor and Master students2004 - 2010Strategy AnalystPuk-Mini-Car Gmbh. Göttingen, GermanyResponsibilities:Build spreadsheets (internal data collection) and models to provide analysis of company performance trends and analysis of strategies and policies for the long-term development of the company2001 – 2002Assistant Administrative Manager Prince Boateng Memorial School, Nsawam-GhanaResponsibilities:Assisting the General manager in the day to day running of the school, and specifically responsible for the welfare of student, teaching and non-teaching staffNational Service. Brentu Secondary & Technical School (B.S.T.S) Enchi-Ghana.Responsibilities:1) Tutor for Biology, Agricultural Science and General Science. 2) Head, Agric Project Committee 3) Head, Environment and Sanitation Committee 4) Chairman of the school electoral commission Internship - Agronomy, Bonsu Cocoa Research Institute. Bonsu-Ghana POSITIONS HELDLANGUAGES COMPUTER SKILL & KNOWLEDGE AWARDS RECEIVED1997-1998Outstanding Editorial Board Member  Ghana Association of Agricultural Students (GAAS), University of Science and Technology (UST) Kumasi–Ghana.1996-1997Active Member (GAAS-UST) Ghana Association of Agricultural Students (GAAS), University of Science and Technology (UST) Kumasi–Ghana.2000-2001 Devoted Member. Transport and Evangelism Committee. Pentecost Students and Associates (PENSA-UST). SOFT SKILLS MEMBERSHIP OF INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC BODIES VOLUNTARY SERVICEContact person for Ghanaian and African students who wish to study at Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Germany. I provide such prospective students with information and advisory service concerning living and studying in Göttingen from an African point of view and helping them to integrate quickly in the German university system when they arrive. HOBBIESListening to music, playing football, swimming, jogging and working out at the gym