# Peter Twumasi

Peter Twumasi (born May 25, 1974) is a Ghanaian biochemist, author, and professor at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He was the director general of the National Sports Authority of Ghana from December 2018 to February 2024. He left the position days after the death of his son, Jim Ofori Twumasi, a final-year economics student at KNUST.
He was the head of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Science, at KNUST from August 2017 to January 2019.

## Education

Peter completed his undergraduate studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in biochemistry. He continued to pursue a master's degree and doctor of philosophy degree at Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands. While in Wageningen University and Research, he developed an Apoptotic Model in Zinnia Plant Cell Culture System, which is considered the best model for apoptotic and programmed cell death studies worldwide in animals and plants alike.

## Career

In 2007, Twumasi started his career path as a lecturer in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where he taught biochemistry. In his years as a lecturer, he served as a senior lecturer, research fellow and visiting lecturer, and head of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at KNUST from 2017 to 2019. He was appointed director general of the National Sports Authority by the president of Ghana in 2018.
Twumasi is a CV Raman Research Fellow in India. He spent three months at Amity University in Uttar Pradesh, India, as a visiting lecturer and researcher. His research on biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, microbiology, health and environment, and sports has resulted in over 60 publications. He has successfully supervised hundreds of undergraduate and postgraduate (master's and PhD) theses, and some outcomes have been published in scientific journals. He wrote five books and tens of articles in dailies on science and society. His memoir, Rising from the Farmhouse, was launched in 2019 by Ghanaian vice president Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
He initiated the Laboratory and Office Equipment Transfer Initiative (LOETI) Programme, which attracted molecular, biotechnology and food science equipment worth GHS 593,544.00 for biochemistry and food science laboratories in 2009. Among the assorted advanced laboratory equipment included PCR machines, DNA sequences, centrifuges, rotary shakers, UV Spectrophotometers, DNA scanners, micropipettes, laminar flowhoods and chambers, etc. This significant contribution initiated advanced DNA and molecular research and teaching in the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology and other adjoining departments at KNUST. Today KNUST prides itself to be among global leaders in making contributions to globally new frontiers in molecular genetic and DNA research.
He is a member of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB), Alumni Association for Graduates and Professionals of Wageningen University and Research. He was the Kumasi Branch President for the Ghana Science Association from 2011 to 2015 during which he initiated the famous GSA Kumasi Branch "One-day Research Seminar and Poster Presentations", which had its eighth edition held in April 2019 in Kumasi. He has always been an active member of GSA, supported the branch activities in diverse ways (including funding) and chaired a number of conference/poster sessions and press releases at both local and national meetings or conferences of GSA.

### Political position and contribution

* Chairman, Polling Agents Recruitment and Trailing Committee, NPP Ashanti Region in the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections
* Member of 2020 Ashanti Region Campaign Team
* Member of Ashanti Election Collation Team
* Member of National Research Standing Committee of the New Patriotic Party
* Member of Ashanti Regional Research Committee
* Research and Elections Officer in the Ashanti region
* Communication Officer for Oforikrom Constituency NPP
* Convener for NPP lecturers Group in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
* Secretary to the Nana Akufo-Addo Primaries Campaign in Ashanti Region with Hon Isaac Asiamah as Chairman
* Organizing Secretary of the KNUST NPP Branch and founding member of TESCON

### Some achievement in sports as director general

* Construction of 10 multipurpose stadiums and 65 Astroturf stadiums across the country