Prof. Mrs Sarah Darkwa
Professor Mrs Sarah Darkwa is currently the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, at the University of Cape Coast. Prior to this position, she served concurrently as the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology Education (FSTE) and the Head of the Department, of Vocational and Technical Education (2019 – 2020). In March 2018, you were appointed as the Chairperson for the three-member Interim Management Committee, which led and managed the administrative activities of Cape Coast Technical University. You were the Vice Dean of the FSTE (2015 – 2017) and the Head, of the Department of VOTEC (2010 – 2013).
She holds a PhD in Environmental Science from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Syracuse, NY-USA; MPhil in Food Science, from the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra- Ghana, and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) (Agriculture), from the University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. Prior to undertaking postgraduate studies, she has been a professional teacher for 24 years, teaching Biology and Agricultural Science full-time at your Alma mater, Wesley Girls High School, after completing her first degree at the University of Cape Coast.
She has published extensively in the area of food science/nutrition. Her publications are in high-impact academic journals and have been widely cited in other works. Her research covers a wide area of food science and nutrition. Some of the areas include:
- Use of Cowpea as a Substitute for Wheat Flour in the preparation of Snacks,
- Quality and safety evaluation of important parameters in palm oil from major cities in
Ghana,
- Microbial contamination in palm oil selected from markets in major cities of Ghana,
- Predicting adulteration of Palm oil with Sudan IV dye using shortwave handheld
spectroscopy and comparative analysis of models,
- Vibrational Spectroscopy, Nutritional Quality, Functional Properties and Sensory
Acceptability of an Orange – fleshed Sweet Potato,
- Microbial contamination associated with “wagashi-cheese” production in Sissala East
District-Ghana.
Professor Sarah Darkwa was an Australian Leadership Award Fellow to the University of Sydney, Australia in 2012; Junior Fulbright Scholar to the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) – Syracuse, New York, USA; a Delta Kappa Gamma World Fellow (Women Educators) (2004 – 2006); SUNNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Alumni Scholar of Honourable Mention,( 2007); SUNNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Award of Excellence, (2009); SUNNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Green Ink Award, (2007 – 2008).
She has also been the recipient of grants from the Great Lakes Research Consortium, (2006 – 2007); MELDI – Michigan, (2007); Ghana Environmental Protection Agency, (2008) and DANIDA grants for research in African fermented foods, (19997 – 1999) for various research projects.
She has served and continues to serve on a number of university-wide Committees and Boards in and outside the University of Cape Coast. A few to mention are the University of Cape Coast Institutional Review Board (2020 – date; International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) Steering Committee, UCC, (2018 – date); College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (2017 – date), the University of Cape Coast Medical School Board (2010 – 2013), Academic Board (2010 – 2013; 2017 – date), Academic Planning and Management Board (2015 -2017; 2019 -2020), School of Graduate Studies Board (2015 – 2017; 2019 – date) OAK City International College Board (2018 – 2019, Chairperson, Centre for Teacher Professional Development Practice Committee (2017 -2019) and the University Estate Committee (2017 – date). She was adjudged the best PhD thesis supervisor by the University of Cape Coast in 2018, and also received the Excellence Award from the State University of New York ESF in Syracuse in 2009.
Professor Mrs Sarah Darkwa on account of her accomplishments as a teacher, scholar and researcher and her contribution to food science/nutrition research in Ghana, was elected Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences on 20 October 2022.
