Professor Jerry John Kponyo has been appointed Acting Director of the Office of Grants and Research (OGR).

An Associate Professor of Telecommunications Engineering, Prof. Kponyo previously served as Dean of the Quality Assurance and Planning Office, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Head of the Electrical Engineering Department at KNUST.

He is the Project Lead of the AI for Sustainable Development (AI4SD) Project, supported by the French Embassy in Ghana, and leads several major initiatives including the KNUST Engineering Education Project (KEEP), a $5.7 million Africa Centre of Excellence Impact project focusing on digital development and energy. Prof. Kponyo is also Co-Founder of the Responsible AI Network (RAIN-Africa), a collaboration between KNUST and the Technical University of Munich.

He currently serves as Principal Investigator and Scientific Director of the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Lab, jointly sponsored by IDRC, FCDO, GIZ, and the French Embassy, and plays a central role in reviewing and adopting Ghana’s National AI Strategy.

With over 80 publications in AI, IoT, and intelligent systems, Prof. Kponyo is internationally recognised for his work on ethical and inclusive digital transformation. His recent appointment to the International Telecommunication Union’s Academic Advisory Board on Emerging Technologies underscores his influence in global AI research.

As Director of OGR, Prof. Kponyo will strengthen KNUST’s research ecosystem, coordinate multidisciplinary grant initiatives, and enhance international research partnerships that align with Ghana’s and Africa’s sustainable development priorities.