Email: esowley@gmail.com
esowley@dhltu.edu.gh
Profile of Sir Prof. Elias N. K. Sowley
Sir Prof. Elias N. K. Sowley, the Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University, Wa, has assumed office as the new Chairman of the Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana (VCTU-G). He takes over from Prof. Samuel E. Alnaa, the Vice-Chancellor of Bolgatanga Technical University. At its 17th Regular Meeting held in Wa on 21st October, 2023, members of the VCTU-G unanimously endorsed his assumption of office as Chairman for a period of one year, beginning October 2023. Sir Prof. Elias N. K. Sowley obtained his B.Sc. (Hon) in Botany and Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, where he studied from 1990 to 1994. After graduating with Second Class Honours (Upper Division), Sir Prof. Sowley did the one-year National Service and worked for two additional years in the Ghana Education Service before proceeding to the University of Ghana, Legon where he pursued the MPhil Crop Science programme (Plant Pathology Option) from 1997 to 1999 and graduated in 2000. After graduating from the University of Ghana, he was employed as a Senior Research Assistant by the University for Development Studies in May 2000 and was upgraded to lecturer with effect from January 2001. He worked in this position until he was offered a Government of Ghana Scholarship to pursue a PhD programme at the University of Reading, UK which he started in October 2003, completed in December 2006 and graduated in July 2007. After graduation, he returned to the University for Development Studies (UDS), where he continued as a lecturer until he was promoted to Senior Lecturer in January 2011, Associate Professor in July 2016 and Professor in August 2020.
In 2021, he was appointed as the First Vice Chancellor of the Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University, Wa following its conversion from Polytechnic to Technical University. Prior to his appointment as Vice Chancellor, Sir Prof. Sowley was the Dean of Graduate School, University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale where he had been since September 2018. He had also been Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance (2013 – 2018), Head of Agronomy Department (2008 – 2013), Ag. Dean of Student Affairs (July 2015) and Postgraduate Programmes Coordinator (2008 – 2010) in the same University.
Sir Prof. Sowley is a Fellow of the Ghana Institute of Horticulturists (GhIH) and the Chartered Institute of Leadership and Governance (CILG). He is also a member of several other professional Associations and Societies including the Ghana Science Association (1998 – Date) and British Society for Plant Pathology (2004 –Date).
Sir Prof. Sowley has several years’ experience in academia with over 50 publications to his credit. He has supervised several undergraduate and graduate students and mentored many academics.
Sir Prof. Sowley is married with four children. He is a practicing Catholic and is currently the National Chairman of the Catholic Laity Council, a position he has held since 2019. In recognition of his leadership and services to the Church and humanity, Sir Prof. Sowley has been honoured by Pope Francis with Knighthood of St. Gregory the Great, which was conferred on him by the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana on 8th September 2023 at the OLA Catholic Cathedral in Tamale. He lovesreading, music, travelling and sight-seeing.
The VCTU-G is a registered non-profit organization in Ghana whose membership comprises the Vice-Chancellors of all public Technical Universities in Ghana. It is a forum which mainly deliberates on issues bordering on the promotion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), promotion of scholarship, research and innovation and advocacy for better working conditions for staff of Technical Universities in Ghana, among others.