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Ghana

USD 100 /hr

I am a freelance science writer, data analyst, agribusiness management & training consultant with 17+ years experience

Profile Summary

As a seasoned agribusiness advisor and intra-Africa trade specialist, I bring extensive expertise in programme management, data analytics, and independent research to drive agribusiness innovation across Africa. I currently lead Research Desk Consulting Limited, an agribusiness advisory and copyediting firm with operations in Ghana and Canada, while also co-founding Africa Farmnet Limited, an innovative agritech startup leveraging AI and GIS technologies to empower African farmers. My commitment to agribusiness development extends to co-founding the West African Centre for Agribusiness and Apiculture Development (WAACAD), where we provide specialised solutions in agribusiness and apiculture across West Africa. I've led numerous high-impact projects, including serving as Lead Agribusiness Consultant in Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Côte d'Ivoire, and as Ghana's in-country Lead for JIC Holdings' Energy and Mining initiatives. Throughout my career, I've worked and collaborated with prestigious organisations including the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Research Triangle International/Rutgers University, Aflatoun International, Savanna Signatures, the International Network for Science and Policy (INASP), AuthorAID, Grameen Foundation, Ghana, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, EyeCity Solutions, the African Development Bank, Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network, Food System Research Network for Africa Fellowship, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Ghana Export Promotion Authority, and Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters, managing projects that range from nitrogen fixation research to enterprise development. My work with the USAID-funded Excellence in Higher Education for Liberian Development programme and leadership of the award-winning Igeza Fall Armyworm APP Project demonstrate my commitment to innovative solutions in agribusiness development. I combine strategic insights with practical implementation to deliver transformative results in agribusiness and development across Africa. Always eager to connect with fellow professionals and explore new opportunities in agribusiness innovation and sustainable development.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Horticulture
• ☆ Agricultural Technology
• ☆ Agribusiness
• ☆ Beekeeping/Apiculture
• ☆ Data Analysis
• ☆ Agroecology
• ☆ R
• ☆ Technical & Scientific Writing
• ☆ Entrepreneurship

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI
• Product Development

Writing Technical Writing, General Proofreading & Editing

Research Market Research, Meta-Research, Feasibility Study, Gap Analysis, Gray Literature Search, Scientific and Technical Research, Systematic Literature Review, Secondary Data Collection

Consulting Go-to-Market Strategy Consulting, Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Statistical Analysis, Data Visualization

Product Development Product Validation, Concept Development

Work Experience

Team Lead and Agribusiness Advisor

Research Desk Consulting Limited

February 2014 - December 2033

Doctoral Researcher

Huazhong Agricultural University

September 2018 - July 2022

Senior Associate Consultant

Escape Poverty (EP)-Africa

July 2017 - January 2018

Data analysis and policy consultant

Grameen Foundation, USA

August 2017 - November 2017

Professional service provider/contract faculty

Research Triangle Institute

August 2015 - March 2017

Data Analyst: Data collection, Research Design, implementation of research programme, Data analyses etc.

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

November 2014 - December 2015

Data Manager and Research Associate

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

November 2014 - July 2015

Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant

University of Ghana

June 2012 - October 2014

Research Assistant: Research design, planning, consulting and coaching.

University of Ghana, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences

June 2012 - October 2014

Education

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship

Unicaf University

January 2018 - Present

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Huazhong Agricultural University

September 2018 - June 2025

Master of Business Administration

UNICAF University

September 2018 - May 2022

Mini-MBA

Tekedia Institute

January 2021 - May 2021

Master of Philosophy, MPhiL (Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, Department of Nuclear Agriculture and Radiation Processing)

University of Ghana School of Graduate Studies

August 2010 - July 2012

Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.)

University of Ghana

August 2010 - June 2012

Bachelor of Science, (B.Sc.)

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

August 2005 - June 2009

Bachelor of Science (Horticulture)

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

August 2005 - June 2009

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Wenxian Gai, Liangdan Yuan, Fan Yang, John Kojo Ahiakpa, Fangman Li, Pingfei Ge, Xingyu Zhang, Jinbao Tao, Fei Wang, Yang Yang, et al. (2024). Genome-wide variants and optimal allelic combinations for citric acid in tomato . Horticulture Research.

Ebenezer Afriyie, Franz Gatzweiler, Monika Zurek, Freda E. Asem, John Kojo Ahiakpa, Bernard Okpattah, Emmanuel Kojo Aidoo, Yong-Guan Zhu (2022). Determinants of Household-Level Food Storage Practices and Outcomes on Food Safety and Security in Accra, Ghana . Foods.

John K. Ahiakpa, Carla Pegoraro, Nanma T. Cosmas, Felix E. Anyiam, Kingsley O. Enalume, Ibrahim Lawan, Ijuptil B. Gabriel, Chinonyelum L. Oforka, Hamze G. Dahir, Salisu T. Fausat, et al. (2022). COVID-19 vaccines uptake: Public knowledge, awareness, perception and acceptance among adult Africans . PLOS ONE.

Dessalegn A. Sedebo, Gucheng Li, Bekele G. Etea, Kidane A. Abebe, John K. Ahiakpa, Yibeltal Arega, Zhang Anran (2022). Impact of smallholder farmers’ climate-smart adaptation practices on wheat yield in southern Ethiopia . Climate and Development.

Samuel Adjei-Nsiah, John K Ahiakpa, Kwesi Gyan, Fred Kanampiu (2021). Influence of phosphorus fertiliser blends on grain yield, nutrient concentration, and profitability of soyabeans in the southern Guinea Savannah of Ghana . South African Journal of Plant and Soil.

Shoaib Munir and Muhammad Ali Mumtaz and John Kojo Ahiakpa and Genzhong Liu and Weifang Chen and Guolin Zhou and Wei Zheng and Zhibiao Ye and Yuyang Zhang(2020). Genome-wide analysis of Myo-inositol oxygenase gene family in tomato reveals their involvement in ascorbic acid accumulation . BMC Genomics. 21. (1). Springer Science and Business Media {LLC}

Guo Ai and Dedi Zhang and Rong Huang and Shiqi Zhang and Wangfang Li and John K. Ahiakpa and Junhong Zhang(2020). Genome-Wide Identification and Molecular Characterization of the Growth-Regulating Factors-Interacting Factor Gene Family in Tomato . Genes. 11. (12). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 1435. {MDPI} {AG}

Muhammad Ali Mumtaz and Shoaib Munir and Genzhong Liu and Weifang Chen and Ying Wang and Huiyang Yu and Saira Mahmood and John Kojo Ahiakpa and Safir Ahmad Tamim and Yuyang Zhang(2020). Altered brassinolide sensitivity1 transcriptionally inhibits chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis capacity in tomato . Plant Growth Regulation. 92. (2). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 417--426. Springer Science and Business Media {LLC}

A Yeboah and and Kojo Ahiakpa and S Adjei-Nsiah and and(2020). Aflatoxin levels in seeds of commonly grown groundnut varieties (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Ghana as influenced by storage method . African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. 20. (01). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 15402--15414. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development

(2020). Determinants of smallholder farmers’ access to microfinance credits . Agricultural Finance Review.

Ouattara, N., Xueping, X., BI, T.B.A.Y., Traoré, L., Ahiakpa, J.K., Olounlade, O.A.(2020). Determinants of smallholder farmers’ access to microfinance credits: A case study in Sassandra-Marahoué District, Côte d’Ivoire . Agricultural Finance Review.

(2018). Agronomic performance of four upland rice genotypes under rainfed condition . THE AFRICAN JOURNAL OF FOOD, AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION AND DEVELOPMENT.

(2018). Productivity of pigeonpea genotypes as influenced by palm bunch ash and NPK fertiliser application and their residual effects on maize yield . Annals of Agricultural Sciences.

(2018). Response of Grain Legumes to Phosphorus Application in the Guinea Savanna Agro-Ecological Zones of Ghana . Agronomy Journal.

Adjei-Nsiah, S., Alabi, B.U., Ahiakpa, J.K., Kanampiu, F.(2018). Response of grain legumes to phosphorus application in the Guinea savanna agro-ecological zones of Ghana . Agronomy Journal. 110. (3). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 1089-1096.

Segbefia, M.M., Amoatey, H.M., Ahiakpa, J.K., Quartey, E.K., Appiah, A.S., Nunoo, J., Kusi-Adjei, R.(2018). Field evaluation of tomato varieties/breeding lines against tomato yellow leaf curl virus disease (TYLCV) . Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science. 41. (1). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 423-439.

Adjei-Nsiah, S., Ahiakpa, J.K., Asamoah-Asante, G.(2018). Productivity of pigeonpea genotypes as influenced by palm bunch ash and NPK fertiliser application and their residual effects on maize yield . Annals of Agricultural Sciences. 63. (1). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 83-89.

Ndebeh, A.K., Asumanah, P., Ndebeh, J., Ndaloma, P.G., Lahai, S.J.B., Kolleh, D.M., Ahiakpa, J.K.(2018). Agronomic performance of four upland rice genotypes under rainfed condition . African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. 18. (2). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 13304-13316.

(2017). Intra-specific variation in West African and Asian germplasm of okra ( Abelmoschus spp L.) . Annals of Agricultural Sciences.

M. O. O. Asante, J. K. Ahiakpa, C. Amoatey, S. Adjei-Nsiah(2017). Effect of shade and level of fertilizer application on nutrient uptake and dry matter partitioning in cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium L.) . Journal of Plant Nutrition. 40. (16). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 2312--2325. Informa {UK} Limited

(2017). Effect of shade and level of fertilizer application on nutrient uptake and dry matter partitioning in cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifoliumL.) . Journal of Plant Nutrition.

(2017). Crossability Studies among Twenty Accessions of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) . Journal of Agricultural Science.

Abiti, B., Hartard, S., Bradl, H.B., Pishva, D., Ahiakpa, J.K.(2017). Resource prospects of Municipal solid wastes generated in the Ga East Municipal Assembly of Ghana . Journal of Health and Pollution. 7. (14). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 37-47.

Ahiakpa, J.K., Magdy, M., Werner, O., Amoatey, H.M., Yeboah, M.A., Appiah, A.S., Quartey, E.K., Ros, R.M.(2017). Intra-specific variation in West African and Asian germplasm of okra (Abelmoschus spp L.) . Annals of Agricultural Sciences. 62. (2). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 131-138.

Asante, M.O.O., Ahiakpa, J.K., Amoatey, C., Adjei-Nsiah, S.(2017). Effect of shade and level of fertilizer application on nutrient uptake and dry matter partitioning in cocoyam (Xanthosoma Sagittifolium L.) . Journal of Plant Nutrition. 40. (16). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 2312-2325.

(2016). Phenotypic profiles of different accessions of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam) in the coastal savanna agro-ecological zone of Ghana . African Journal of Agricultural Research.

H M Amoatey and F L Sossah and J K Ahiakpa and E K Quartey and A S Appiah and M M Segbefia(2016). Phenotypic profiles of different accessions of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam) in the coastal savanna agro-ecological zone of Ghana . African Journal of Agricultural Research. 11. (26). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 2316--2328. Academic Journals

(2015). Detection of TYLCV in Ten Genotypes of Tomato (Solanum spp L.) using Serological and Molecular Techniques in a Coastal Savanna Zone of Ghana . Journal of Natural Sciences Research.

(2015). Agromorphological Characterisation of 29 Accessions of Okra (Abelmoschus spp L.) . Journal Biology, Agriculture & HealthCare.

(2014). Genetic Diversity Studies in 29 Accessions of Okra (Abelmoschus spp L.) Using 13 Quantitative Traits . American Journal of Experimental Agriculture.

(2014). Destination Distributor Selection and Relationship Management by SMEs involved in Non-Traditional Exporting: A Case Study of Three SMEs in Ghana . Developing Country Studies.

(2014). Mucilage Content of 21 Accessions of Okra (Abelmoschus spp L.) . Scientia Agriculturae.

(2014). Essential Mineral Elements Profile of 22 Accessions of Okra (Abelmoschus spp (L.)) From Eight Regions of Ghana . Journal of Agricultural Science.

(2013). Genetic diversity, correlation and path analyses of okra (Abelmoschus spp. (L.) Moench) germplasm collected in Ghana . International Journal of Development and Sustainability.

(2013). Total flavonoid, phenolic contents and antioxidant scavenging activity in 25 accessions of okra (Abelmoschus spp L.) . African Journal of Food Science and Technology.

Biochemical Characterisation of 18 Accessions of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam.) Using Total Leaf and Tuberous Root Protein by SDS-PAGE . Journal of Natural Sciences Research.

PREPRINT

Kojo Ahiakpa, Ebenezer Afriyie, Victoria A. Uyanga, Charles O. Okoye, Adekoya M. Adejoke, Solabomi O. Ogunyemi, Jane I. Mbadianya, Fisayo T. Akinyemi, Oluwaseun O. Aluko, Patience M. Acquah, et al. (2023). Improving agriculture and food security in Africa: Can the one health approach be the answer? .

OTHER

Samuel Adjei-Nsiah, John Kojo Ahiakpa, Kwesi Gyan, Fred Kanampiu (2021). Influence of phosphorus fertiliser blend on grain yield, nutrient concentration, and profitability of soyabean in the Southern Guinea Savanna of Ghana .

REPORT

Ahiakpa, Kojo and Karikari, Benjamin and Ametowobla, Alex and Frimpong, Stephen(2020). Effects of COVID-19 on Agribusinesses in Ghana, Agribusiness Sector Survey Report, 2020 . Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana. Unpublished

REGISTERED COPYRIGHT

(2014). Genetic Diversity Study: A Tool for Harnessing Okra Germplasm in Ghana . LAP Lambert Academic Publishing.