Professor Twumasi Appointed New DG Of NSA

The new Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Professor Peter Twumasi, may not be a popular name in the sports circles, but boast of enormous quality and experience to lead the body, that seeks to promote and encourage the organization and development of mass participation in both amateur and professional sports in Ghana.

Professor Twumasi, is the Head of Department (HOD) of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology (KNUST), would among other things help to co-ordinate and integrate all efforts to raise the standards of performance in amateur and professional sports throughout Ghana.

Looking at his profile and what he brings on board to supervise a successful NSA, he is a Ghanaian and Netherlands trained.

Professor Twumasi is a Biochemist and Biotechnologist who has been involved in several biochemical and molecular biology research projects in the areas of programmed cell death (or apoptosis), DNA fingerprinting, microbial and plant genetic diversity studies, and PCR-based molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B Virus, HIV, bacterial and fungal diseases.

With a lot of academic research works to his credit, Professor Twumasi, whilst in the Wageningen University developed an Apoptotic Model in Zinnia Plant Cell Culture System, which is today considered the best model for apoptotic and programmed cell death studies worldwide in animals and plants alike.

Other important areas of his research works include molecular characterization of human cleft palate and pica practice in humans, development of plant-based heavy metallic detoxification drugs and assessment of heavy metals in urban-grown vegetables, tissue culture for varietal development in cassava, groundnuts and Hibiscus.

With little or no experience in the sports arena, many would wonder what he would bring on board, but with his rich experience in the numerous positions held, boards and bodies he has chaired in the areas of Senior Lecturer, Research Fellow and Visiting Lecturer, Judge of Appeals Tribunal, Honourable Member, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, 2017 among others, there is no doubt he would not live up to the expectation of lifting the image of the NSA.

Professor Twumasi takes over from Mr Abdul Majeed Bawa, who was acting as the Director General after the resignation of the substantive Director Mr Robert Safo-Mensah.

Sports mean a lot to Ghanaians and he must come to deliver as most people want. For sure, the media will support him if he allows himself, and he would leave a legacy if he wants to.