Professor Nicholas N. N. Nsowah-Nuamah, chairman of the board
The Nsowah-Nuamah Statistics and Artificial Intelligence Institute (NSAI) in Accra has inaugurated a new governing board to drive the adoption of artificial intelligence and data science in education, policy development and industry across Ghana and the wider African continent.
The seven-member board was sworn-in on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, by Dr Alfred Sabah, Director of the Institute of Distance Learning and Continuing Education at Kumasi Technical University.
Members of the board are Professor Nicholas N. N. Nsowah-Nuamah (Chair), Professor Ezekiel Nii Noye Nortey, Professor Peter Quartey, Dr Charles Owiredu, Professor Smile Gavua Dzisi and Professor Kaku Sagary Nokoe.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Chairman of the Governing Council of Southshore University College, Professor Felix Nikoi Hammond urged the board to translate academic research into practical technological solutions capable of addressing real-world economic and development challenges.
“We are not merely inaugurating an institute; we are formalising a legacy of intellectual excellence,” he said, referring to the scholarly contributions of Professor Nicholas Nsowah-Nuamah, after whom the institute is named.
Professor Hammond said the institute was expected to function as a “living laboratory”, transforming decades of academic research into real-world applications through predictive intelligence and artificial intelligence-driven innovation.
He stressed the need to bridge the gap between theory and practice by ensuring that students graduate with market-ready skills and entrepreneurial capabilities.
According to him, the institute’s strategic direction is built on three key pillars: a portfolio-first model that prioritises practical outputs over transcripts; a venture-led pedagogy that integrates real-world problem-solving into learning; and a focus on high-impact skills to enhance graduate employability.
Professor Hammond also highlighted the institute’s guiding philosophy, Ex Africa Nova Lux — meaning “Out of Africa, a New Light” — which positions Africa as a source of innovation, knowledge and future global leadership.
He urged the board to foster partnerships with industry and international institutions to ensure the institute remains aligned with global standards while addressing African challenges through data and technology.
“As we conclude, let us remember that we are here to turn data into destiny,” he said. “Let the work of this institute begin now.”
The board members pledged to work collaboratively with staff to advance the institute’s mission and support its growth.
Profiles of Board Members
- Professor Nicholas N. N. Nsowah-Nuamah
Professor Nicholas Nsowah-Nuamah, who chairs the board, is a distinguished statistician and President of Southshore University College, Ghana, with extensive experience in academic leadership and public service.
He has held several senior positions, including President of Regent University College, Foundation Interim Vice-Chancellor of Kumasi Technical University and Rector of Kumasi Polytechnic. He also served as Deputy Government Statistician and later Acting Government Statistician at the Ghana Statistical Service.
Professor Nsowah-Nuamah has played a key role in advancing higher education and the statistical profession in Ghana and across Africa. He previously served as Vice-President of the Association of African Universities and Chairman of the Council of Independent Universities.
He is the immediate past President of the Ghana Statistical Association and currently President of the Institute of Statisticians and Data Scientists. A prolific scholar, he has authored 21 books used locally and internationally and has published widely in academic journals.
He obtained his PhD in Statistics from Moscow State University in 1987 and has received several honours, including recognition in Marquis Who’s Who in the World for academic and leadership excellence.
- Professor Kaku Sagary Nokoe
Professor Kaku Sagary Nokoe is a Ghanaian academic and biometrician with nearly five decades of experience in teaching, research and academic leadership.
A Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, he has made significant contributions to biometry, statistical modelling and their applications in agriculture, forestry and public health.
He has held several senior leadership roles, including Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research) at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Kenya.
Professor Nokoe holds a BSc in Natural Resource Management from the University of Ibadan and both an MF and PhD in Mensuration/Biometry from the University of British Columbia in Canada.
He currently serves as Chairman of the Council of Koforidua Technical University.
- Professor Smile Gavua Dzisi
Professor Smile Gavua Dzisi is a Ghanaian academic and education leader with more than three decades of experience in teaching, administration and institutional development.
She began her career as a teacher at St Rose’s Senior High School before becoming the first female Rector of a Polytechnic in Ghana.
She later served as Vice-Chancellor of Koforidua Technical University, where she led its transition from a Polytechnic to a Technical University. She also served as President of Data Link Institute of Business and Technology.
Professor Dzisi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Ghana and a PhD in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Swinburne University of Technology in Australia.
She currently serves as Deputy Director-General (Management Services) at the Ghana Education Service and Chair of the Council of Ho Technical University.
Dr Charles Owiredu is a Ghanaian scholar, educator and academic administrator with extensive experience in higher education, research and institutional development.
He currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Daniel Institute at Central University, where he works in research and strategy.
Dr Owiredu has held several senior leadership roles, including university president, provost and vice-president for academic affairs. His expertise includes curriculum development, academic policy design, strategic planning and accreditation processes.
He has played a key role in establishing and developing five private universities in Ghana.
Professor Peter Quartey is a Ghanaian economist with more than 24 years of experience in development finance, private sector development and monetary and financial sector policy.
He holds a PhD in Development Economics from the University of Manchester and an MSc in Quantitative Development Economics from the University of Warwick.
Professor Quartey is currently Acting Director of the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD) and Executive Director of the Retail Finance Distribution Network Initiative.
He previously served as Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) and Head of the Department of Economics at the University of Ghana.
He has published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and has held visiting scholar positions at institutions including the International Monetary Fund and the Brookings Institution.
- Professor Ezekiel Nii Noye Nortey
Professor Ezekiel Nii Noye Nortey is a statistician and Associate Professor at the University of Ghana, currently on sabbatical at Southshore University College.
He also serves as Director of the Nsowah-Nuamah Statistics and Artificial Intelligence Institute.
His expertise includes statistical modelling, predictive analytics, survey methodology and applied econometrics.
Professor Nortey obtained his PhD in Statistics from the University of Ghana in 2011 after completing an MPhil in Statistics and a BA in Mathematics and Statistics at the same institution.
He has led and contributed to research projects for organisations including the Ghana Statistical Service, UNICEF, UNDP and the Students’ Loan Trust Fund.
Professor Nortey has authored more than 100 scholarly works and is widely recognised for applying statistical science to real-world challenges.
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