Profile
Prof. Amos Mensah
CONTACT INFORMATION
Current Address: Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
Phone: +233 (0) 555 025 310 / +233 (0) 501 121 975
Email: amensah@knust.edu.gh | mensahamos@yahoo.co.uk | ghanaba.amos@gmail.com
Permanent Address: P.O. Box KF 2509, Koforidua, Eastern Region, Ghana
PROFILE SUMMARY
Prof. Amos Mensah is an Associate Professor in Agricultural Economics at KNUST with over 18 years of professional experience in applied agricultural research, rural development, food systems analysis, and policy advisory work across Ghana and West Africa. His career spans academia, consultancy, agricultural extension, and engagement with international development organizations.
He specializes in agricultural productivity and efficiency analysis, value chain development, smallholder transformation, agricultural finance, food security, environmental sustainability, and econometric modeling for development policy evaluation. He has produced extensive peer-reviewed scientific publications in high-impact international journals, participated in multi-country research initiatives, and provided technical expertise to global agencies such as GIZ, FARA, Better Cotton, ECOOKIM, ACDI/VOCA, the U.S. Department of State, and Fairtrade International.
He has supervised numerous graduate students, served on academic committees, reviewed scientific manuscripts, and contributed to national policy dialogues. His combination of scientific rigor, evaluative experience, and multidisciplinary expertise makes him well suited for senior-level research assessment roles within the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
- Agricultural Productivity & Efficiency Measurement
- Cocoa and Tree-Crop Value Chain Analysis
- Climate Change, Water Scarcity & Agricultural Sustainability
- Farm Management, Production Economics & Risk Analysis
- Livelihood Diversification & Rural Development
- Food Security, Nutrition & Household Welfare Assessment
- Research Methods, Survey Design, Monitoring & Evaluation
- Econometric Modeling (Stochastic Frontier, METAFRONTIER, MESM, Double-Hurdle, IV, PSM, Endogenous Switching Models)
EDUCATION
- PhD, Agricultural Economics
Georg-August University Göttingen, Germany (2010–2014) - MSc, Tropical & International Agriculture (Socioeconomics of Rural Development)
University of Göttingen, Germany (2001–2004) - BSc (Hons), Agricultural Science
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana (1996–2000)
AFFILIATIONS FOR TEACHING, SUPERVISION & RESEARCH
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness & Extension, KNUST
- Department of Horticulture, KNUST
- Department of Crops & Soil Science, KNUST
- Department of Animal Science, KNUST
- Institute of Distance Learning (IDL), KNUST
- Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD), KNUST
- KNUST Okuafopa Agribusiness Youth Training Centre, Kyeremanso
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Agricultural Value Chains (Cocoa, Maize, Poultry, Vegetables, Small Ruminants)
- Climate-Smart Agriculture and Sustainability Practices
- Agricultural Innovation Systems and Technology Adoption
- Poverty Reduction, Gender and Rural Livelihoods
- Agricultural Trade, Food Markets & Postharvest Systems
- Impact Evaluation of Development Projects
- Behavioural Economics in Agriculture
SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS
(Only highlights included here; full list available on Google Scholar and Scopus)
- Mensah, A., Adams, F., Afriyie, S.O. (2025). Role of formal credit in enhancing maize production and profitability in Africa. Rev Agric Food Environ Stud.
- Adams, F., Mensah, A. et al. (2025). Small ruminant mortality reduction through improved management systems. Small Ruminant Research.
- Amos, M., Adams, F., Owusu-Nkwantabisah, V. et al. (2025). Maintaining maize quality for industrial use in Ghana: Barriers and strategies. Journal of Stored Products Research.
- Mensah, A. et al. (2024). Effect of shade management on cocoa seedling mortality in Ghana. Agroforestry Systems.
- Adams, F., Quaye, J., Mensah, A. (2024). Urban farming preferences and land-use policy. Land Use Policy.
- Multiple additional publications in Journal of Agribusiness in Developing Economies, Environment Development & Sustainability, Scientific African, African Journal of Agricultural Economics, and others.
SELECTED CONSULTANCY & TECHNICAL PROJECTS
- Livelihood Ecosystem Advancement Programme (LEAP), Côte d'Ivoire (2022–2027)
Senior Consultant (Agresearch Lead) – Worked on climate-smart cocoa systems, financial inclusion, cooperative strengthening, and income diversification. - Better Cotton – Mali: Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices Impact Study (2022)
Senior Consultant – Evaluated adoption of CSA practices and environmental sustainability impacts. - Child Trafficking Impact Evaluation (U.S. Department of State / Free the Slaves) (2022)
Senior Consultant – Led nationwide mixed-methods impact evaluation across 34 communities. - GIZ / GFA Multi-Country Baseline Study (2015–2016)
Country Expert – Agricultural innovation systems, value chain diagnostics, quantitative surveys. - Ghana Poultry Project – ACDI/VOCA (2017)
Lead Consultant – National needs assessment of poultry associations and market systems. - FARA Multi-Donor Trust Fund Project (2018)
Consultant – Agricultural technology deployment strategies in West African value chains.
TEACHING AND ACADEMIC SERVICE
- Senior Lecturer, KNUST
- Supervisor of BSc, MSc and PhD Theses (Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Rural Development)
- Course Instructor in:
- Agricultural Production Economics
- Agribusiness Management
- Quantitative Research Methods
- Rural Development Economics
- Value Chain Analysis
- Member: KNUST Counselling Team
- Provides mentorship on academic planning, time management, emotional wellbeing, career development, and leadership.
LANGUAGES
- English (Excellent – Professional Working Language)
- German (Excellent – Professional Working Language)
- Ghanaian Languages: Ga, Akan (Asante/Twi), Krobo, Fanti
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE)
- European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE)
- African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE)
- Ghana Association of Agricultural Economists (GAAE)
- University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG)
REFEREES
- Dr. Bernhard Brümmer
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development
Georg-August University Göttingen, Germany
Email: bbruemm@gwdg.de - Fred Nimoh
Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension
KNUST, Kumasi Ghana
Email: frediemoh@yahoo.com - Faizal Adams
Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension
KNUST, Kumasi Ghana
Email: fazztop@gmail.com