Frank panford biography

Francis Boafo Effah received his BSc Electrical/Electronic Engineering degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, in 2001. From 2001 to 2002, he served as a Teaching Assistant at KNUST's Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. At the end of his National Service, he travelled to the United Kingdom (UK) on a working holiday. He returned to Ghana to take up an appointment as an Electronic Engineer with Hospital Engineering Ltd (HEL), Accra, in 2003.

In 2005, he was appointed as Senior Electronic Engineer and Branch Manager responsible for HEL's workshop at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) where he oversaw the setting up of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Maternity block of KBTH. In 2008, he travelled again to the UK for postgraduate studies. He obtained his MSc Electrical Engineering and PhD Electrical and Electronic Engineering degrees from the University of Nottingham, UK, in 2009 and 2014, respectively.

From January 2014 to July 2015, he was a Research Fellow at the Power Electronics Machines and Controls (PEMC) Research Group of the University of Nottingham, UK, where he worked on Solid-state and Hybrid HVDC circuit breaker concepts for Alstom Grid, UK. He also worked on a back-to-back NPC converter motor drive for Bowden and Francis, UK and solid-state AC circuit breaker concepts for Techna UK. From July 2015 to December 2016, he worked as a Lecturer at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa.

Dr Effah joined KNUST as a Lecturer in 2016 and was promoted to the rank of Senior Lecturer in 2021. He is currently the Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at KNUST. He facilitates courses in Power Electronics, Electrical Machines, Electric Drives, Circuit Theory, Applied Electricity and Application of Power Electroni

You spent the first years of your professional life as a television news reporter and anchor in Ghana. What prompted you to pursue law and then academia?

My role as a television reporter and anchor created a platform for me to understand and experience firsthand the needs of the people in the central region of Ghana, especially those in rural areas and in the informal sectors. My team and I identified a gap regarding the commitment of TV stations in Ghana to educate the public about their fundamental rights and responsibilities. With the approval and support of the management of Coastal Television, a TV station based in Cape Coast, we designed a TV program dubbed Mmra, meaning “Law.” The aim of the program was to educate the public about their rights and duties contained in the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

As a law student, I got to understand the practical operations of the law and utilized that to engage guests on the show as we dealt with topical issues, such as women and children’s rights, domestic violence and prison reforms. Through this program, we engaged eminent jurists, such as Frank Panford, Queen’s Counsel; law professors/lecturers; and industry leaders. We also worked with the University of Cape Coast Law Students’ Union to develop an outreach program called Mmra Community Outreach Program. Through this program, law students went to markets and other places to engage traders and educate them about critical legal issues. The consistent engagement with guests, educators and the public ignited and cemented my interest in academia and the desire to pursue further studies in law.

You’ve taught and done research in Ghana, South Africa, Germany, the Netherlands and now the United States. Does that varied geography introduce new perspectives in your understanding of the legal world?

Yes, it does. The research and teaching experience from different jurisdicti

Ethnic group in Ghana

For the writer, see John Fante. For the language, see Fante language.

Ethnic group

The modern Mfantsefo or Fante ("Fanti" is an older spelling) confederacy is a combination of Akan people and aboriginal Guan people. The Fante people are mainly located in the Central and Western regions of Ghana, occupying the forest and coastal areas. Their land stretches from the eastern part of western region in the west to Gomoa in the east. The Fante can be broadly categorized into two groups - the Borbor/Boka Fante(Akan ancestry) and the Etsii Fante(Guan ancestry). Over the last half century, Fante communities have been established as far as Gambia, Liberia, and even Angola due to fishing expeditions. Major Fante cities and towns in modern Ghana include Cape Coast, Saltpond, Elmina, Sekondi-Takoradi, Agona Swedru, Mankessim,Winneba,Shama,Apam, Komenda, Kasoa and Anomabo.

According to their oral traditions, the Borbor Fante, an intrusive group, migrated from Tekyiman in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana and settled in Fanteland. They initially established themselves in Kwaman before moving to Mankessim. After residing in Mankessim for a period of time, they went on to establish the states of Abora, Ekumfi, Enyanmaim, Mankessim, and Nkusukum in the surrounding areas. The burial ground near Mankessim, where the remains of the three leaders of the migrants (Oburumankoma, Odapagyan, and Oson) were interred, became known as Nananom Pow, the most sacred place in the Borbor Fante territory. The Borbor Fante, who share a common language (Fante) and cultural traits, inhabit a concentrated area within Fanteland. The historical and spiritual capital of Borbor Mfantseman is Mankessim (Oman kesi mu).

The Etsii Fante states, which include Eguafo, Fetu, Asebu, are positioned from west to east. The others are Oguaa, Elmina, Moree, Otsir, etc. The majority o