Professor Mrs Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo has assumed office as Pro Vice Chancellor of the University following her appointment by the Governing Council of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT)at its 92nd Regular Meeting held on Thursday, 28th November, 2024. Professor Mrs Grace Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo is the first woman to be appointed Pro Vice Chancellor of the University. She succeeds Professor Anthony Simons, the immediate past Pro Vice Chancellor.
Aside being the first female to be appointed Pro Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Mrs Grace Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo is Ghana’s first female Professor of Minerals/Metallurgical Engineering. She is a distinguished academic who holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Energy and Mineral Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, USA, a Master of Science degree in Environmental Resources Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering both from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana.
Her leadership at the University spans several pivotal roles, including Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dean of Planning and Quality Assurance Unit, Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, Dean of the Faculty of Mineral Resources Technology, Head of both the Departments of Petroleum Engineering, and Environmental and Safety Engineering, and the Coordinator of University Examinations. In all these positions, she exemplified herself and made verifiable contributions to the development of the space.
In addition to her responsibilities within the University, Professor Mrs Grace Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo has contributed her expertise to national and institutional growth including the Boards of Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and, the Ghana Chamber of Mines (GCM) Tertiary Education Fund, the International Advisory Board of African Centre for Mineral Exploration and Development (ACMED), the Governing Councils of Academic City College, Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS), and University of Mines and Technology. She has served on numerous national and international committees including the Ministerial Committee of Enquiry on Health and Safety in the Mining Industry, the Publication Committee of GAAS, the Technical Committees of MIIF Board and GCM Council, and the MIIF Committee on Women from Mining Communities Scholarship. She has also served on the Committee of Independent Reviewers for International PhD Scholarship, Review Committees of OWSD Early Career Fellowship, Association of African University Training Grant, the Amira Research Consortium and as Associate Editor of the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy. She has acted as organiser, keynote speaker, resource person and moderator for several conferences, workshops and seminars both locally and internationally.
Professor Mrs Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo’s academic career took off when she joined UMaT as a Lecturer in 2002, and in 2006, she obtained the Ghana Government Scholarship to pursue her PhD at Pennsylvania State University, where she conducted pioneering research in mycohydrometallurgy. Upon completing her PhD in 2010, she returned to Ghana and resumed lecturing at the University and steadily rose through the ranks of Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor and Professor in the Department of Minerals Engineering. Grace has supervised over 100 graduate theses and undergraduate project works, fostering a culture of academic excellence. Her research in precious mineral beneficiation, comminution characteristics, aqueous processing, mine waste treatment, geometallurgy, and microbial mineral interactions have contributed significantly to the industrial and academic space with about 100 publications and high citation index. Her innovative research in mycohydrometallurgy, particularly in utilising fungi for gold extraction, establishes her as a forerunner in advancing sustainable mining practices.
In 2017, Professor Mrs Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo was the Sub-Saharan recipient of the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award for her outstanding impact on scientific advancement and her positive mentorship for females to reduce the gender gaps in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Her excellent contributions to mining and female advancement also earned her a slot in the Women in Mining UK Award for 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining (WIM100), 2024. She is a Fellow of both the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) and the West African Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum (WAIMM), and also a member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Engineers (SME), International Association of Engineers and Women in Mining, Ghana. Being an ardent advocate for gender equality and empowerment, Professor Mrs Grace Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo founded the Ladies in Mining and Allied Professions Ghana (LiMAP-Gh), a professional body which seeks to mentor and advocate for women in mining and its related disciplines. As the founder and the immediate past president of LiMAP-Gh, she champions women’s participation in the sector by collaborating with players in the mining industry on youth mentorship and training as well as community responsive programmes.
She is married to Mr Frank Odei Akuffo, and they are blessed with five children. She fellowships at the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), where she serves as a Council member and actively participates in church activities.