The Mumfordians: Memories of a Sea Boy

KWAME AKON NINSIN, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, University of Ghana; holds a BA (Combined Honours) degree in Political Science and History from the University of Ghana (1969), and Ph.D. (Political Science) from Boston University (1977). He has authored several works on Ghanaian and African politics; was editor or editorial advisory board member for several journals, including the Journal of Modern African Studies and Ghana Social Science Journal; visiting scholar at several universities in the US and UK, and held several executive positions including: Executive Secretary, African Association of Political Science, 1995-2001; Master, Mensah Sarbah Hall, University of Ghana 19911993; Member, Ghana’s Constitution Assembly 1991-1992; and Head/Chair, Department of Political Science, University of Ghana (for 3 terms from the 1980s to 1995).

Has received several academic awards including Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship for “Reflections on Development”, 1987; Alphonso Castagno Memorial Award for Doctoral Research in Africa, 1975; African Studies Centre (BU) Grant for Research in Africa, 1974-1975; Fulbright-Hays Scholar, 1971-76 to study for the Ph.D. in the USA; Award for “Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Humanitarian Concern” by Boston University International Students Office, 1976; and the honour of the Kwame Akon Ninsin Library, Department of Political Science, University of Ghana. He has been honoured by the Department of Political Science, Legon by naming its library after him, the Kwame Akon Ninsin Library, for his immense contribution to the academic life of the Department.