Professor Elliot Haruna Alhassan, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), has emerged as the highest-ranked candidate in the institution’s selection process for a new Vice-Chancellor.
Official results from the interview show that Professor Alhassan scored 82.2, placing him first in a competitive field of senior academics vying for the top leadership position at the university.
The outcome positions him as the leading contender as UDS moves through its formal procedures for appointing a new Vice-Chancellor, with the final decision expected to be made by the Governing Council in line with statutory requirements.
Professor Alhassan has spent much of his academic career at UDS, where he joined in 2004 as a Senior Research Assistant. Over the years, he rose through the academic ranks and was appointed a Full Professor of Fisheries and Aquatic Science in March 2022.
He is regarded as one of the younger full professors in his field in Ghana and holds a BSc in Agriculture Technology from UDS, as well as an MPhil and PhD in Fisheries Science from the University of Ghana, Legon.
His research work focuses on freshwater ecology, fisheries management, climate change, aquaculture and food security. He has also worked on collaborative projects across Africa, Europe and Asia.
In leadership roles at UDS, Professor Alhassan has served as Dean of the Faculty of Biosciences and Dean of the Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment. In those positions, he was associated with academic reforms, expanded research activity and institutional development.
He has also played a role in governance at the university, including chairing the committee that developed UDS’s Enterprise Risk Management framework.
A prolific academic, he has more than 150 scientific publications and has supervised a large number of undergraduate and postgraduate students.
His emergence as the top-ranked candidate is seen within the university community as a reflection of his long service at UDS and his extensive experience in both academic and administrative leadership.
The Governing Council is expected to complete the appointment process in the coming stages.
