Richard Amfo-Otu

PhD., MSc., BSc.

Position:

Senior Lecturer, Head of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance

Department:

Department of Environment and Public Health

Google Scholar Account:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=scg8eEgAAAAJ

Office Location:

Quality Assurance Office, Lecture Block, 2nd Floor

BRIEF PROFILE:

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Publications / CONFERENCES:

EMPLOYMENT RECORDS

Dr. Richard Amfo-Otu is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Environmental Science and Education of University of Environment and Sustainable Development. He holds a PhD in Development Studies from the University of Cape Coast with specialty in environmental studies, MSc. Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation from KNUST, BSc. (Hon) Chemistry from the University of Cape Coast. He has completed Post-Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education at the University of Education Winneba and awaiting graduation.
Prior to Joining UESD, He lectured at Presbyterian University College, Ghana for a decade. He was appointed as acting Director of Total Quality Management and a substantive director for 2017/2018 and 2018/2018 – November, 2021, respectively. He served as the Head of Department from 2015/2016 – 2016/2017 academic years for the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management.
His teaching philosophy is to guide students to learn from what they know to new ideas through a collaborative approach. He taught a number of courses under postgraduate programmes of the Faculty of Development Studies such as: Occupational Health and Safety, Hazardous Waste Control and Management, and Environmental Monitoring and Risk Assessment under MSc. Environmental Health; Soil Ecology under MSc. Natural Resources Management; and Environment and Development, Water, Sanitation and Development under M.A, International Development.
Waste management, environmental quality, public health and safety, water supply, food safety, WASH, climate change, circular and green economies, natural resource management and sustainable resource utilization are his research interest areas. He has a number of refereed articles to his credit including chapters in edited books. He has been a member of the International Water Association (IWA) and International Solid Waste Association (ISWA).
He has over 13 years working experience in the Environmental Sanitation sector. He has worked with a number of local and international consultants for UNIDO, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Secretariat (BRS), UNDP, Ghana office.
He has worked with a number of consultants and technical committees to: review the National Health Care Waste Management Policy and Guidelines; develop guidelines for Faecal Sludge Emptying and Conveyance for the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources; and develop the Minamata Initial Assessment Report for Ghana.
He is currently a member of National Technical Expert team for the implementation of the National Plastics Action Plan (NPAP) in collaboration with the Global Plastics Action Partnership (GPAP) under the Ministry of Environment, Sciences Technology and Innovation (MESTI). He is a formal employee of CHF International, now Global Communities and Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

1. Waste management, environmental quality.
2. Public health and safety.
3. Water supply and quality.
4. Food safety.
5. WASH.
6. Climate Change.
7. Circular and Green Economies.
8. Natural resource management.
9. Sustainable resource utilization.

Abledu, E. S. & Amfo-Otu, R. (2018). Contribution of Informal Sector Recycling Workers to Sustainable Landfill Management: The Case of Kpone Landfill Site in the Greater Accra region. Applied Research Journal, 4(1),1-11.

Amfo-Otu, R., Potakay, H., Abledu, E. S., & Nlason, E. K. I (2017). Adaptive Management Principles in Engineered Landfill Site Management: the case of Kpone landfill site in Ghana. In E. D. Wiafe (Ed), Adaptive Management: Element, Application and Research (p 63-83). New York, Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Sadick, A., Amfo-Otu, R., Dugan, E., & Calys-Tagoe, E. (2017). Assessment of Irrigation Water Salinity and Crop Production at Botanga Irrigation Scheme. SCIREA Journal of Environment, 2(2), 30-37

Adu-Ofori, E., Amfo-Otu, R. & Hodgson, I.O.A (2016). Organic and Nutrient removal efficiency of waste stabilisation ponds, the case of Akosombo wastewater treatment ponds, Ghana. Journal of Ghana Science Association, 17(1), 9-17.

Amfo-Otu, R., & Agyemang, K. J. (2016). Occupational Health Hazards and Safety Practices Among the Informal Sector Auto Mechanics. Applied Research Journal, 1(4), 59-69.

Amfo-Otu, R. & Doo, I.A. (2015). Hospital solid waste management at Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital, Akuapem-Mampong, Ghana. International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 16(4), 305 – 314.

Amfo-Otu, R. & Potakey, H. (2015). Food Safety Awareness among Private University Students, the Case of Presbyterian University College, Ghana. Journal of Advances in Food Science & Technology, 2(4): 144-148.

Amfo-Otu, R., Adu Kumi, J. & Kwakye, F. (2015). Solid Waste Composition, Material Recovery and Climate Change. The Case of Accra Polytechnic. In E.D. Wiafe & F. S. Arku (Eds.), Sustainable Utilisation of Natural Resources in the Era of Climate Change (P 75 – 91). New York, NovaScience Publishers, Inc.

Adams, S., Amfo-Otu, R., Acquah, S.J., Nketia, K.A., Asamoah, E., & Adjei, E.O. (2015). Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Soils around Auto Mechanic Workshop Clusters in Central Agricultural Station, Kumasi Ghana. Applied Research Journal, 1(2),12 – 19

Adams, S., Ansah, I.O., Badu, A.O., Nketia, K.A., Asamoah, E., Asaana, J. & Amfo- Otu, R. (2015). Estimation of Potential Evapotranspiration at Botanga Irrigation Scheme in the Northern Region of Ghana. Environmental Research, Engineering and Management, 4(70), 5 – 13

Conferences
Amfo-Otu, R. (2018, October). Closing the Dumpsites: The Case of Health Care Waste Disposal Practices in Ghana. Paper presentation and proceedings at the ISWA 2018 World Congress International Conference. Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Clarke, E. Amfo-Otu, R., Dedaa, A. N. & Darkwa, J. A. (2018, July,). Contribution of Healthcare Waste Management Project toward Hepatitis B and C Screening among health Workers, Ghana. Paper presentation at the 7th Infection Control Africa Network (ICAN) Congress. Century City, Cape Town, South Africa.

University of Environment and Sustainable Development : December, 2020 – to date

Presbyterian University College, Ghana : Dec. 2010 – Nov. 2020

CHF International (now Global Communities) : Dec. 2009 – Nov. 2010

Zoomlion Ghana Limited : Jan. 2008 – Dec. 2009

Associations/Affiliations

Research Projects

Positions Held & Hold

Professional/Teaching Experience

International Water Association (IWA)

Waste Segregation Survey

Director for Total Quality Management : Sept. 2017/2018 – November, 2021

Head of Department: 2015/2016 – 2016/2017

He has taught at the University level of education for 12 years, ten years on full-time and two on part-time.