A soft-spoken man, tall, dark, perhaps, well-built too, with a neatly trimmed moustache, walks into the University Relations Office. His mission is to inform the office of his up-coming Inaugural lecture under the topic: African Agriculture at a Cross-Road: Can Farmers’ Socio-Economic Indicators give us Direction?

His name is Professor Samuel Donkoh and he will be the 12th academic staff of the University for Development Studies to have risen through the ranks to become a full Professor. And on 15th July, 2022 when he mounts the platform to deliver that lecture - a significant milestone in his academic career- the General Public will recognise Professor Samuel Donkoh’s promotion from “Associate Professor” to “full Professor”. This lecture will also provide an opportunity for our new Professorial colleague to showcase his research with a broad audience, including members of the public, family, friends and colleagues.

Professor Samuel Donkoh is mild and gentle in his voice as he sits in the University Relations Office to share his story with Mr. Ayuba Ibrahim, Assistant Registrar. It’s a story of determination, sometimes, loneliness and trauma, but Prof Donkoh’s voice never cracks as he talks about his childhood.

At the time, his father - the first teacher to head a school in their native hometown, Ekumfi Srafa- unsurprinsingly, was one of those who placed a lot of priority on the education of all of his children. Therefore, when young |Samuel qualified to go to Secondary School, there was only one question on the minds of everyone. Which Secondary school will be best for him?

As destiny would have it; young Samuel’s father owned a stereo player which he loved dearly. When the stereo player developed a fault and therefore could not function again, and after a fruitless search for a competent repairer in Ekumfi Srafa, where the family used to live, his father sent the stereo to a repairer in Tarkwa in the Western Region for repairs.
 
Getting the repairer to send the stereo player back to Ekumfi became a challenge. So, when young Samuel's admission letter from Tarkwa Secondary School arrived, his father was extremely excited at two things - the prospects of his son going to a good school in Tarkwa and and also because his son would now be able to travel to Tarkwa to bring back his beloved stereo player. And that was how Samuel Donkoh as he was then known, took advantage of bringing back a faulty stereo player from Takwa to Ekumfi, to begin his journey towards achieving academic excellence from Tarkwa Secondary School.  And that, he has done excellently, culminating in the upcoming inaugural lecture!

He joined UDS as a Research Assistant in 1998 and through hard work and commitment, he was promoted to the rank of a lecturer in 1999.
 
As an ambitious young man who was eager to climb the academic ladder to the very top, he immediately sought for and won a scholarship to pursue his PhD in Agricultural and Food Economics at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom in 2003. He successfully graduated in 2007 and being the faithful person he has proven to be over the years, he neither betrayed nor abandoned UDS. He returned to the University to continue with what he loves doing – teaching and mentoring young people.

His love for teaching is a virtue that also almost became his nemesis. He was too busy teaching, marking scripts, helping students with their assignments that the latest holder of a PhD degree on the Nyankpala Campus at the time, almost became oblivious of the fact that in the academic world, the unofficial guiding clause is “you publish or you perish”.

When the young man Dr. Donkoh became aware of this unofficial guiding principle, he immediately jumped onto the bandwagon of researchers and publishers, and made his first publication in 2008 - almost a decade after joining the University.

What Dr Donkoh had not done in 10 years, he was determined to catch up within the shortest possible time, and within a space of 2 years, that is, from 2008 to 2010 he produced had publisehd eneough articles to earn him a promotion to the rank of Senior Lecturer in 2012.

The years between 2012 and 2017 were even busier. his research works and publications had reached the numbers that none could ignore - a whopping 40 publications. It was time for him to be promoted to the rank of an Associate Professor. And he was!

Professor Donkoh, who was recently ranked 51st out of the 1000 best scientists in Ghana by the Alper-Doger (AD) Scientific Index 2022 Version 2, currently has to his credit, over one hundred (100) publications, four (4) books and five (5) book chapters.

Prof says he picked up the interest for teaching right from his infancy because most of his family members were teachers.  

When he is not teaching or engaged in research work, Prof. does what many people think scientists like him don’t do – he prays. In fact, Prof. Donkoh’s love for his Maker is so deeply rooted that despite his busy schedules, he has been able to establish and become the Head Pastor of the Christ Universal Church in Tamale, where he, among other many responsibilities, provides spiritual leadership to members of the church. His duties include preparing weekly sermons, preaching and conducting worship services. He also interprets biblical scripture for the congregation and provides care and counseling to church members while assisting them in crisis situations.

According to him, growing up as a young man from a humble background, he relies very much on prayers for guidance. He says it is persistent prayers and fasting that have led and inspired him to his current status both in academia and Christendom.

When asked about how he is able to combine academic work with his Pastoral duties, he said most of the ideas he conceives to research into in academia, are conceived by him during prayer sessions “the spiritual exercises give me a lot of motivation to aspire academically and the vice-versa”.

Prof. Donkoh is very proud to be among the best 1000 scientists in Ghana and feels all the hard work and sacrifices put up over the years did not go un-noticed. He feels very happy and fulfilled as a teacher and mentor to many students who are contributing to development of their communities.

Currently, he is the Dean of UDS School of Applied Economics and Management Sciences at the Nyankpala Campus. He is scheduled to deliver his inaugural lecture on Friday, July 15, 2022 on the topic: African Agriculture at a Cross-Road: Can Farmers’ Socio-Economic Indicators give us Direction? 

He says all are cordially invited.

Story by:
Ayuba Ibrahim (University Relations)