Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience |  University of Cape Coast

Denis Worlanyo Aheto is a Professor of Coastal Ecology and Interdisciplinary Oceans Studies and the Director of the Centre for Coastal Management, the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. He is an astute academic, distinguished lecturer and administrator, an outstanding team player, resourceful leader, and results-oriented researcher with a strong passion for grants success and resources mobilization with an interest developing strong scientific and academic partnerships in his area of professional work. He was honoured to deliver his inaugural speech as a professor at the School of Medical Sciences Auditorium of the University of Cape Coast on the 9th September, 2023, on the theme "Our Oceans: Securing Our Common Future Through Transformative Research".

Professor Aheto completed his O’ level in 1990 at the St. Martins’ Secondary School, Nsawam, and A’ Level in 1992 at the Pope Johns’ Secondary School, Koforidua. He then obtained his BSc. (Hons) Degree in Biological Sciences and a Diploma in Education in 1998 at the University of Cape Coast. He subsequently obtained an MSc. Degree in Rural Development Studies at the Swedish Agricultural University (SLU) in Uppsala in 2002, and an MSc. Degree in International Studies in Tropical Aquatic Ecology (ISATEC) at the Centre for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT) in 2004, and a PhD Degree in Environmental Science in 2008 at the Center for Environment and Technology (UFT) both at the University of Bremen, Germany.

He has engaged in several professional development training courses, i.e. Project Management Professional (PMP) at Center of Excellence, British Council, Accra in 2019; Principle-centered Leadership using tools and Methods created by Stephen Covey: “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by USAID in Accra in 2018; Holistic Foundations for Assessment and Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 2012; Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change, Coastal Resources Center (CRC) University of Rhode Island, USA in 2010; and Law of the Sea and Maritime Regulation and Enforcement at the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong, Australia in 2017.

His research experience is epitomized in the over 50 peer-reviewed academic papers published in reputable journals over 14 years – an average of three (3) papers per year in addition to over 50 referenced conference proceedings, abstracts, posters, and commissioned technical reports for Development and private sector agencies to his credit. His standing as an accomplished academic is further demonstrated in the number of organizations interested in funding his research and these include World Bank, among others.

Summaries from the inaugural lecture
 

The Ocean is a key driver for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in line with SDG 14 (Life Below Water) of the UN Agenda 2030, to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. Everyone without exception is called to be an active agent toward this goal. I have spent the greater part of my professional life, as a personal contribution to applied research, capacity building, and training in higher education on coastal and marine ecology topics and within the spheres of multidisciplinary ocean studies and related policy and coastal community development issues in Africa. The formal creation of the Centre for Coastal Management at the University of Cape Coast in 2013, and its subsequent elevation in 2018 by the World Bank, endorsed by the Association of African Universities (AAU) and the Ghana Government as the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) for Development Impact, with its special focus to address issues of marine and coastal degradation is a significant cornerstone of my personal contributions to our collective transformative efforts in pushing the frontiers of science, policy and administration, and indicative of leadership commitment to establishing long-term institutional anchor within the domain of coastal and marine studies at the University of Cape Coast for Africa.

An Africa research and capacity development platform for ocean studies is crucially needed. This is because even though the African Ocean or Blue Economy is very dependent on healthy marine and coastal resources, and therefore critical for the socioeconomic development of the continent, it is the subject of ongoing severe environmental degradation mainly from pollution, erosion, and flooding resulting from anthropogenic and climate stressors with consequential impacts on marine biodiversity and livelihoods. Blue economy envisions the sustainable use of ocean resources and maritime activities, offering potential for economic development while addressing socioeconomic and environmental issues. The African Ocean territories possess significant potential for the development of its Blue Economy, yet this remains unexplored and underutilized. Other challenges relate to institutional weaknesses, policy fragmentation, and justice concerns in ocean sectors and coastal communities. There are also issues of scientific, administrative, and professional capacity deficits on the continent to address the challenges. Actionable research involving key stakeholders is crucial for the transformation changes needed to ensure sustainable conservation of the oceans.

Against this background, and with the support of my agile and dynamic team at the Centre for Coastal Management/ACECoR at the University of Cape Coast, we have championed and contributed to a transformation research agenda that integrates science, policy, practitioners, and end-users into coastal and marine resources conservation. Effectively, over the last ten years, the efforts have turned out to be laborious and costly. To advance the front, meant more informed knowledge and strategic partnerships needed to be sought to drive the transformative research focus to enhance efficiency, which under present circumstances is largely not practiced on the continent. In this context, securing our common future means achieving sustainable development goals of the African Blue Economy informed by research, and where all key stakeholders have a role to play. More guidance grounded on actual project experiences and program management is needed on the continent. This means that knowledge-based institutions such as universities could pioneer scientific research in multidisciplinary ocean studies, and promote technology and innovation with appropriate financing and institutional governance systems to support and develop capacity, especially its youthful workforce.

Using a framework of thematic research clusters, based on the opportunities and challenges the ocean economy presents, this inaugural lecture makes a compelling case for supporting transformative research for the development of the ocean economy for sustainable economic growth, promoting social inclusion, and conservation of the marine environment. It provides insights into how stakeholders have acted in concert to amplify development impacts, providing insights as to how academic institutions could stimulate critical research and training services to inform sustainable actions for the development of the African Blue Economy. In this light, collaborative processes involved in transformative research covering aspects of its development, and implementation, including the execution of partnerships with development agencies, government, and civil society organizations are highlighted. Elements of capacity building, and training, monitoring and evaluation, data management, information technology, and aspects of financing will be discussed. Reflections and lessons learned from firsthand project experiences within the marine/coastal research context in a traditional university environment will feature prominently, supported with examples, connected to relevant scholarly literature.

Source: University of Cape Coast Documentation Unit