Kodwo Dadzie NINSIN, PhD

1. Evolution and management of insect pest resistance to insecticides
2. Interaction between beneficial insects and insecticides
3. Integrated Pest Management
4. Strategies for managing pesticide residues in foods

RECENT PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES
1. Antwi-Agyakwa, A. K., K. D. Ninsin, R. Adu-Acheampong and E. A. Osekre (2017) Incipient bifenthrin-resistance in field populations of cocoa mirids, Distantiella theobroma (Dist.) and Sahlbergella singularis Hagl. (Hemiptera: Miridae). Ghana
Jnl. Agric. Sci. 51: 3-8.

2. Ninsin, K. D. (2017) Efficient elimination of insecticide-susceptible diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.) by esfenvalerate from a population generates high esfenvalerate-resistance in the DBM. Ghana Jnl. Agric. Sci. 51: 9-13.

3. Ninsin, K. D. (2017) Correct computation of resistance ratio (resistance factor) of an arthropod pest population from bioassay so that it is reliable and useful in insecticide and acaricide resistance management. Ghana Jnl. Agric. Sci. 51: 15-20.

4. Ninsin, K. D. and R. Adu-Acheampong (2017) The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) approved insecticides; imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and bifenthrin, for the control of cocoa mirids (Hemiptera: Miridae): Implications for insecticide-resistance
development in Distantiella theobroma (Dist.) and Sahlbergella singularis Hagl. Ghana Jnl. Agric. Sci. 51: 21-28.

5. Ninsin, K. D. (2017) Exploiting the modes of action of insecticides and acaricides to manage the development of resistance in arthropod pests in Ghana. Ghana Jnl. Agric. Sci. 51: 29-39.

6. Antwi-Agyakwa, A. K., E. A. Osekre, K. D. Ninsin and R. Adu-Acheampong (2016) Insecticide handling in cocoa production in four Regions in Ghana. Journal of Science and Technology. 36: 1-9.

7. Ninsin, K. D. (2016) Acetamiprid-resistant diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) show cross-resistance to esfenvalerate. Ghana Jnl Agric. Sci. 50:3-7.

8. Ninsin, K. D. and Koney, E. B. M. (2016) Development of a resistance management strategy for ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting livestock from market available acaricides in southern Ghana. West African Journal of Applied Ecology. 24(2): 57-
66.

9. Antwi-Agyakwa, A. K., K. D. Ninsin, E. A. Osekre and R. Adu-Acheampong (2016) Effectiveness of bifenthrin against field populations of cocoa mirids, Distantiella theobroma (Dist.) and Sahlbergella singularis Hagl. (Hemiptera: Miridae). Ghana
Jnl Agric. Sci. 50: 9-15.

10. Ninsin, K. D. (2015) Cross-resistance assessment in cartap- and esfenvalerate- selected strains of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). West African Journal of Applied Ecology 23(2): 1-6.

11. Ninsin, K. D. (2015) Susceptibility of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) to acetamiprid and selected insecticides by foliar treatment and strategy for resistance management. Ghana Jnl Agric. Sci. 49: 69-75.

12. Antwi-Agyakwa, A. K., E. A. Osekre, R. Adu-Acheampong and K. D. Ninsin (2015) Insecticide use practices in cocoa production in four Regions in Ghana. West African Journal of Applied Ecology 23(1): 39-48.

12/2020 to date Senior Lecturer (Biology)
Department of Biological, Physical and Mathematical Sciences
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
University of Environment and Sustainable Development
Somanya
Ghana

2/2016 to 11/2020 Independent Applied Entomologist
Post Office Box LG 981, Legon
Ghana

12/2007 to 1/2016 Research Scientist (Entomology)
Animal Health and Food Safety Division
Animal Research Institute (ARI-CSIR)
Ghana

01/2005 – 03/2006 Visiting Researcher
Laboratory of Applied Entomology
Department of Biological Mechanisms and Functions
Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences
Nagoya University, Nagoya
Japan

2000-2003 Monbusho Scholarship for PhD (Japanese Government)
1997-2000 Monbusho Scholarship for MAgr (Japanese Government)
1995-1997 DAAD Scholarship for MPhil (German Government)
1996 Grant for Graduate Diploma (Danish Government)
1991 Merit Award for Academic Excellence, Undergraduate Study (Ghanaian

DEVELOPED SOLUTIONS FOR GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT
The first researcher, globally, to generate quality knowledge and practical research-based solutions for preventing the development of resistance to acetamiprid in the diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.), the US$ 4 billion pest of cruciferous vegetables.
Highlights of accomplishment are:
1. INNOVATIVE SOLUTION DEVELOPED FROM SYNERGISM STUDIES
Innovation: Demonstrated that co-applying insecticide and synergist is a practical
means to enhance the efficacy of insecticide that is ineffective due to
metabolic resistance.
Reference: Ninsin KD & Tanaka T (2005) Pest Manag. Sci. 61: 723–727
Impact: Cited by Patent Publication Number WO2012123714A1: Compositions and
methods for controlling pesticide resistant pests by Moores et al. (2012),
protocol adopted for synergism studies and has contributed to the
commercialization of insecticidal products with mixture of insecticide and
synergist for the control of resistant field populations of arthropod pests in
agriculture and public health globally.
2. SOLUTION DEVELOPED FROM CROSS-RESISTANCE STUDIES
Strategy: When there is the need to manage P. xylostella on cruciferous vegetables
with insecticides, rotate acetamiprid (a neonicotinoid – agonist of the
nicotinic acetylcholine receptor) with chlorfluazuron (benzoylphenyl urea –
Insect Growth Regulator that inhibits chitin synthesis) and Bacillus
thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki Berliner (Btk) (a microbial insecticide). That
is because acetamiprid does not show cross-resistance to either
chlorfluazuron or Btk. However, while using acetamiprid to control P.
xylostella, do not use esfenvalerate (pyrethroid), cartap (nereistoxin
analogue) or phenthoate (organophosphate) because acetamiprid shows
cross-resistance to esfenvalerate, cartap and phenthoate although they are
of different chemistries.
Advantage: This strategy prevents the development of resistance in P. xylostella, a
phenomenon that has undermined the success of many P. xylostella
management programmes worldwide.
Reference: Ninsin KD (2004) J. Appl. Entomol. 128: 445-451
Ninsin KD (2004) Pest Manag. Sci. 60: 839-841
Ninsin KD (2016) Ghana Jnl Agric. Sci. 50: 3-7
Impact: Few reported cases of resistance to acetamiprid in field populations of
DBM on the Global Arthropod Pesticide Resistance Database
(pesticideresistance.org), google.com and bing.com.
3. ESTABLISHED DIAGNOSTIC CONCENTRATION FOR RESISTANCE MONITORING
Relevance: Diagnostic concentration discriminates between susceptible (ss) and
resistant (rs/rr) individuals in field populations of arthropod pests and so
useful for resistance monitoring to detect early stages of resistance
development in the field.
Application: Expose ≥100 3rd instar larvae of P. xylostella to 350 mg/l acetamiprid,
using the leaf-dipping method. If ≥50% of test individuals survive, it
indicates resistance ratio (RR) of ≥4. In that case, stop using acetamiprid
to allow susceptibility to be restored as acetamiprid-resistance is unstable.
Reference: Ninsin KD (2003) PhD Thesis. Nagoya University, Japan. 112pp
4. ESTABLISHED LABORATORY COLONY OF RESISTANT P. XYLOSTELLA
Relevance: Useful for generating quality knowledge, tools and strategies needed for
developing comprehensive Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM)
programmes.
Outcome: Demonstrated that the difficult task of establishing a laboratory colony of
acetamiprid resistant P. xylostella strain is attainable and that field
populations of P. xylostella have the potential to develop resistance to
acetamiprid.
Reference: Ninsin KD (2004) Pest Manag. Sci. 60: 839-841
5. INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE RISK ASSESSMENT
Relevance: Determines the likelihood of an insect pest developing resistance to a
given insecticide.
Outcome: Acetamiprid is more robust to resistance development in the DBM
compared to cartap, esfenvalerate and phenthoate.
References: Ninsin KD (2004) J. Appl. Entomol. 128: 445-451
Ninsin KD (2011) Ghana Jnl Agric. Sci. 44: 41-51

PLUGGED GAPS IN INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT (IRM) RESEARCH
OUTPUT IN GHANA TO ENHANCE TEACHING AND RESEARCH IN IRM FOR
SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT IN GHANA
A number of research articles on insect resistance in agricultural pests in Ghana
indicate that there are gaps in resistance research in Ghana and a lack of capacity to
develop IRM solutions to manage the problem for sustainable pest management. Dr
Ninsin has published in Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and
University of Ghana journals on ways to overcome some of the gaps in resistance
research in Ghana, recommended some solutions to the resistance problem in Ghana
and made a case for proactive IRM in Ghana to enhance IRM teaching and research for
sustainable pest management. A selection of the contribution:
• It is important to proactively manage insecticide resistance development in
arthropod pests by incorporating effective IRM strategies into all arthropod pest
management programmes that have insecticide or acaricide control component
from the onset, but this is not happening in Ghana.
Ninsin (2011) Ghana Jnl Agric. Sci. 44: 59-67 and Ninsin (2017) Ghana Jnl.
Agric. Sci. 51: 9-13 demonstrated that insecticide concentrations lower than the
recommended field concentration of insecticides do eliminate susceptible (ss)-
individuals in field populations of arthropod pests leaving behind resistant
(rs/rr)-individuals that generate high resistance in arthropod pests over
successive generations. Thus, the recommended field concentration of
insecticides would generate high resistance in field populations of arthropod
pests. There is therefore an urgent need to proactively manage insecticide
resistance development in Ghana.
In Ghana, laboratory colonies of insecticide resistant and susceptible strains of
arthropod pests are not developed for top quality resistance research.
Ninsin (2011), Ghana Jnl Agric. Sci. 44: 41-51, demonstrated how to develop
resistant and susceptible strains of arthropod pests through laboratory
selection experiments.
Laboratory evaluation of cross-resistance is important for determining whether
insecticides can or cannot be alternated or rotationally used to manage resistance
in arthropod pests. However, such studies are not being conducted in Ghana.
Ninsin (2015), West African Journal of Applied Ecology 23(2): 1-6, and Ninsin
(2016), Ghana Jnl Agric. Sci. 50:3-7, underscored the importance of cross-
resistance study and demonstrated how this essential study is conducted.

CORRECTED ERRORS IN IRM RESEARCH OUTPUT IN GHANA TO ENHANCE IRM
TEACHING AND RESEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT IN GHANA
A number of research articles, published from 2010 to 2016, on insecticide resistance in
arthropod pests of vegetables in Ghana had a number of technical errors that
undermine top quality education in IRM and sustainable pest management in Ghana. Dr
Ninsin has critiqued the articles and corrected the errors to enhance teaching and
research of IRM in Ghana for sustainable pest management.

PUBLISHED IN JUST NINE (9) DAYS, A RAPID REPORT, IN PEST MANAGEMENT
SCIENCE, A TOP INTERNATIONAL PEER-REVIEWED ENTOMOLOGY JOURNAL
About Pest Management Science: Impact Factor: 4.845
2020 Journal Citation Reports (Clarivate Analytics): 5/102 (Entomology)
The Rapid Report: Ninsin KD (2004) Pest Manag. Sci. 60: 839-841

COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF SCIENTIFIC PUBLISHING IN GHANA
Although the Author Guidelines of Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science, published by
CSIR, states that proofs would be sent to authors to check for errors, in reality, the
journal does not send out proofs. As a result, technical editors of the journal introduce
errors into articles at the copyediting and typesetting stages, which negatively affect the
quality and international ranking of the journal. Dr Ninsin submitted articles in 2012 and
2018 to the Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science to ensure that errors in published
articles are corrected and proofs are sent to authors for error checking before articles
are published in order to improve the quality and international ranking of the journal.