Prof. Elvis Nyarko is an accomplished Academician with over twenty years’ experience in the field of Marine Environmental Science Research. As a distinguished lecturer, with expertise in research, mentoring, consultancy and investigative work, he has, over the years, provided scientific and innovative support to vital National and International projects. 

Prof. Elvis Nyarko is an accomplished Academician with over twenty years’ experience in the field of Marine Environmental Science Research. As a distinguished lecturer, with expertise in research, mentoring, consultancy and investigative work, he has, over the years, provided scientific and innovative support to vital National and International projects.      Prof. Elvis Nyarko has provided valuable scientific support in the capacities of Consultant, National Coordinator, Investigator, among others, to some Internationally partnered projects. These include the GloBallast Project, a joint initiative by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to control the spread of marine invasive species via ship’s ballast water (2009 to 2011). Others are the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Co-operation Africa Project to enhance Regional Capacity for the Assessment of Contamination in the Marine Environment (2008-2012). He was also instrumental in the commencement of other IAEA funded projects such as (i) Supporting an Integrated Approach for Marine Pollution Monitoring using Nuclear Analytical Techniques (2012-2016), and (ii) Strengthening Regional Capacities for projects to enhance Regional Capacities for the Assessment of Contamination in the Marine Environment (2008-2012).

He has also headed the Advisory Committee/Technical Committee for the drafting of the new Fisheries Acts under the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development. He also serves as a Member of the Entity Tender Committee of the Ghana Maritime Authority.               Prof. Nyarko has facilitated the smooth running of coordinated EU-funded maritime security Projects such as Critical Maritime Routes of Gulf of the Guinea (CRIMGO) from 2014 to 2016 and the Gulf of Guinea Inter-regional Network (GOGIN) Project from 2017 to present. He has supervised several under-graduate, Masters and PhD. students.

Prof. Nyarko was appointed to the high office of Vice Chancellor of the Regional Maritime University by the Board of Governors on 1st March, 2015.  Taking off from the solid foundation laid by his predecessors, Prof. Nyarko, with the support of the Board of Governors, Management, Staff and Students of the University, has recorded the following modest achievements over the past three (3) years.

1. Continuation of the 7-storey Administration & Library Complex Project which was at the 2nd floor at the time of his assumption of office but has progressed steadily and is now on the 5th floor.
2. Continuation of a 2000 capacity Auditorium Complex, which was at foundation level, when he took office but now scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018.
3. Construction of additional offices and washrooms for the departments of Nautical Science and Port and Shipping.
4. Construction of a Welding and Fabrication Workshop to house new equipment donated to the University by the Government of Ghana.
5. Construction of a 2-Storey Office / Car Park Complex for the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

The Regional Maritime University School of Graduate Studies, which was approved by the Board of Governors in 2012, has now become fully functional under his leadership. In addition, existing Faculties of Maritime Studies and Engineering have been re-structured with the addition of a new Faculty of International Business and Humanities. Three (3) Post-Graduate Programmes in Bio-Processing Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, and Environmental Engineering as well as an Undergraduate Programme in Accounting have been accredited by the National Accreditation Board for roll out from September, 2018.

Collaborations:

1. He has also continued and expanded collaboration with Bernhard Schulte Shipping GMBH and the Ghana Navy. In the case of Bernhard Schulte, he has put in a lot of effort to strengthen the collaboration which has led to a significant increase in the intake of RMU Cadets from the initial thirty (30) in 2012 to three hundred and fifty (350) and, currently, on over sixty (60) BS ships worldwide.
2. Dredging Engineering and Marine Engineering (DEME), Belgium, to provide short course training for staff and students in dredging technologies and to provide placement / sea time for RMU Cadets.
3. With Seaweld Engineering Limited to run Professional Oil and Gas Programmes
4. Initiated the collaboration with REDAVIA GMBH Germany to supply 0.5 mega watts solar power to Regional Maritime University to help reduce electricity tariffs of the university leading to significant savings. In addition, REDAVIA will build renewable energy laboratory on the RMU campus to train students on solar technologies.
5. Amaris Terminal to provide Internship and placement for Port and Shipping Administration Students.
6. SRI-EMAS to provide software support for a new B.Sc. programme in Naval Architecture and Ship building.
7. GE Offshore of Equatorial Guinea to train crews for their vessels
8. Biannual Oceanography Summer School with the University of Michigan, USA.
9. Strengthened the relationship with the International Association of Maritime Universities, Association of African Universities, etc
10. Ghana Science Association.

He has also headed the Advisory Committee/Technical Committee for the drafting of the new Fisheries Acts under the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development. He also serves as a Member of the Entity Tender Committee of the Ghana Maritime Authority.               Prof. Nyarko has facilitated the smooth running of coordinated EU-funded maritime security Projects such as Critical Maritime Routes of Gulf of the Guinea (CRIMGO) from 2014 to 2016 and the Gulf of Guinea Inter-regional Network (GOGIN) Project from 2017 to present. He has supervised several under-graduate, Masters and PhD. students.

He is a hardworking Researcher and a Writer with over forty (40) research publications in International and Local Peer reviewed Journals, and is very highly cited on Google Scholar and Scopus. He undertook two post-doctoral research programmes; First at the University of Saga / Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan (2002-2004); and Second at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A (2005-2006), where he was further exposed to the conduct of frontline world-class cutting edge scientific research.

Qualifications details:

• Ph.D., Chemistry (with concentration in Environmental Biological Chemistry and Toxicology), University of Saga, Japan

• M.Phil., Marine Science and Coastal Management, New Castle Upon Tyne, UK

• M.Sc., Tropical Coastal Management, New Castle Upon Tyne, UK

• B.Sc. (Hons.) Zoology (major) and Botany (minor), University if Ghana.

PUBLICATIONS

1. Mahu, E., Asiedu, D.K., Nyarko, E.,  Hulme, S.,Coale, K. H.,.Anani, C. Y. (2018). Provenance, Paleo-Weathering and -Redox Signatures of Estuarine Sediments from Ghana, Gulf of Guinea. Quaternary International.  Available on-line, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2018.06.005
2. Botwe , B. O., Nyarko, E., Lens, P. N. L. (2018). Settling Fluxes and Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment of Fine Sedimentary Metals in Tema Harbour (Ghana). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 126:119-129.
3. Klubi, E., Abril, J. M., Nyarko, E., Delgado, A., (2017). Impact of Gold-Mining Activity on Trace Elements Enrichment in West African Estuaries: The case of Pra and Ankobra rivers with the Volta estuary (Ghana) as reference. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 190: 229-244.
4. Botwe, B. O. Schirone, A., Delbono, I., Barsanti, M., delfanti, R., Kelderman, P., Nyarko, E., Lens, P.N.L. (2017). Radioactivity Concentrations and their Radiological Significance in Sediments of the TemaHarbour (Greater Accra, Ghana). Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 10:63-71.
5. Botwe, B.O., Schamphalaere, K.D.,  Schipper, C. A., Teuchies, J., Blust , R., Nyarko, E., Lens, P.N.L. (2017). Integrated Hazard Risk and Impact Assessment of Tropical Marine Sediments fromTemaHarbour (Ghana). Chemosphere, 177:24-34.
6. Botwe, B.O., Alfonso, L., Nyarko, E., Lens, P.N.L., (2017). Metal Distribution and Fractionation in Surface Sediments of Coastal TemaHarbour(Ghana) and its Ecological Implications. Environmental Earth Sciences 76:514
7. Botwe, B.O., Abril, J.M., Schirone, A., Barsanti, M., Delbono, I., Delfanti, R., Nyarko, E., Lens, P.N.L. (2017). Settling fluxes and Sediment Accumulation Rates by the Combines use of Sediment Traps and Sediment Cores in TemaHarbour (Ghana). Science of the Total Environment, 609 :1114-1125.
8. Klubi, E., Abril, J.M., Nyarko, E., Lasissoui, A., Benmansour (2017). Radioecological Assessment and Radiometric Dating of Sediment cores from Dynamic Sedimentary Systems of Pra and Volta Estuaries (Ghana)along the Equatorial Atlantic, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 178-179: 116-126.
9. Mahu, E., Nyarko, E., Hulme, S., Swarzenski, P., Asiedu, D.K., Coale, K.H., (2016). Geochronology and Historical Deposition of Trace Metals in three (3) Tropical Estuaries in the Gulf of Guinea. Estuarine and Coastal Shelf Science, 177:31-40
10. Nyarko, E., Klubi, E., Laissoui, A., Benmansour, M., (2016).  Estimating Recent Sedimentation Rates using lead-210 in Tropical Estuarine Systems:  Case Study of Pra and Volta estuaries in Ghana (West Africa).  Journal of Oceanography and Marine Research, 4:1-5
11. Mahu, E., Nyarko, E., Hulme, S., Coale, K.H. (2015). Distribution and Enrichment of Trace Metals from Eastern Equatorial Atlantic of the Ghana coast in the Gulf of Guinea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 98:301-307
12. Nyarko, E.,Lamptey. A.M., Owiredu-Amaning, D. A., (2015). Application of Water Quality Index for Assessment of the nearshore Coastal Waters of Accra, Ghana. Pollution Research, 34:1-5
13. Bandowe, B. A. M, Bigalke, M., Boamah, L., Nyarko, E.,Saalia, F.K., Wilcke, W. (2014) Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PAHs and Oxygenated PAHs) and Trace Metals in fish species from Ghana (West Africa): Bioaccumulation and Health Risk Assessment. Environment International 65: 135–146

14.  Nyarko, E.,  Foli, B. A. K,  Achel, D. G. Botwe, B. O.,  Adom, T., Fianko, J. R. Osae,
15. D.  (2013) Investigation of Selected Trace and Heavy Metals in Two Tropical Fish Speciesfrom the Coastal    Waters of Ghana. International Journal of Science and Technology3: 40- 47
16. Kuranchie -Mensah H, Yeboah, P.O, Nyarko, E., Golow, A.A. (2013). Studies on Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Fishes from the Densu River Basin, Ghana. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination Toxicology DOI 10.1007/s00128-012-0931-1.
17.  Addo, M. A., Darko, E. O., Gordon, C., Nyarko, B.J.B, Gbadagbo, J. K., Nyarko, E., Affum, H. A., Botwe, B. O., (2012). Evaluation of Heavy Metals Contamination of Soil and Vegetation in the Vicinity of a Cement Factory in the Volta Region, Ghana. International Journal of Science and Technology, 2: 40-50.
18.  Nyarko, E.,.Botwe, B. O, Klubi, E.K. (2011). Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in two commonly consumed fish species from the Coastal Waters of Ghana and their Carcinogenic health risks. West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 19:53-66.

18.Nyarko, E., Botwe, B. O., Ansong, J. E. Delfanti, R., Bassanti, M., Schirone, A.  (2011,). Determination of 210Pb, 226Ra and 137Cs in beach sands along the coastline of Ghana.  African Journal of Environmental Pollution & Health, 9 (2):18-24.

19. Nyarko, E., Botwe, B. O., Lamptey, E., Nuotuo, O. ,Foli,  B. A., Addo,  M. A (2011).  Toxic Metal Concentrations in Deep-sea Sediments from the Jubilee Oil Field and surrounding areas off the Western Coast of Ghana. Tropical Journal of Environmental Research, 9&10:584-595.
20.  Nyarko, E.  Botwe B.O., Ogonowo, O.O., Oburu, N.C, Addo, M.A., Ofori-Danson, P.K. (2011). Orgnochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in two common Dolphins from the Ghanaian coastal waters.  African Journal of Environmental Pollution & Health, 9(1):50-59
21. Nyarko, E.  Botwe B.O., Bampoe A.A., Addo S., Armah A.K., Ntow W.J. (2011). Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Sardinellaaurita from the Coastal Waters of Accra-Tema, Ghana and their Potential Health Risks.  Journal of the Ghana Science Association, 13:39-46

22 Grab, D. J., Nyarko, E, Nikolskaia , O. V., Kim, Y. V. And Dumler, J. S, (2009). Human brain Microvascular Endothelial Cell Traversal by Borreliaburgdorferi requires Calcium Signaling. Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (CMI), 15: 422-426

23. Ntow, W.J., Tagoe, L.M, Dreschel, P., Kelderman, P., Nyarko, E., Gijzen, H. J. (2009).  Occupational Exposure to Pesticides: Blood Cholinesterase activity in a farming community in Ghana.  Archives of Environmental Contamination Toxicology, 56: 623-630.
24.  Ntow, W.J., Tagoe, L.M, Dreschel, P., Kelderman, P., Gijzen, H.J., Nyarko, E. (2008).  Accumulation of Persistent Organochlorine Contaminants in Milk and Serum of farmers from Ghana. Environmental Research, 106: 17-26.
25. GrabD. J., Nyarko, E., Barat, N.C., Nikolskaia, O.V., Dumler, J.S. (2007). Chemokine, cytokine   and Matrix Metalloprotease Expression by human brain Microvascular Endothelial cells is enhanced with Anaplasmaphagocytophilum-Borreliaburdorferi Con-infection. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, 14: 1420-1424.

26 Botwe, B. O., Ntow, W. J. and Nyarko, E. (2012).  Pesticide Contamination in Groundwater and streams draining Vegetable Plantations in the Offinso District, Ghana.  Soil Health and Land Use Management. Soriano, H. M. C. (Ed), 51-66p. InTech. (Book Chapter)

27.Nyarko, E., Grab, D. J., Dumler J.S. (2006). Anaplasmaphagocytophilum-infected neutophils enhance transmigration of Borreliaburgdorferiacross the human Blood Brain Barrier in vitro.  International Journal for Parasitology, 36: 601-605.

28. Grab, D.J., Nikolskaia, O., Kim, Y.V, Lonsdale-Eccles, J.D., Ito, S., Hara, T., Fukuma, T., Nyarko, E., Kim, K.J., Stins, M.F., Delannoy, M.J., Rodgers, J., Kim, K.S. (2004). African trypanosome interactions with an in vitro model of the human blood-brain barrier. Journal ofParasitology, 90: 970-979.
29. Nyarko, E., Hara, T., Grab, D. J., Habib, A., Kim, Y., Nikolskaia, O., Fukuma, T., Tabata, M. (2004). In vitro toxicity of palladium(II) and gold(III) porphyrins and their aqueous metal ion counterparts on Trypanosomabruceibrucei growth, Chemico-Biological Interaction,148: 19-25.
30. Nyarko, E.,Hanada, N., Habib, A., Tabata, M. (2004).  Fluorescence and phosphorescence spectra of Au(III), Pt(II) and Pd(II) porphyrins with DNA at room temperature, InorganicaChimica Acta,357: 739-745.
31. Tabata, M., Sarkar, A.K., Nyarko, E. (2003). Enhanced conformational changes in DNA inthe presence of Hg(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) porphyrins, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 94: 50-58.
32. Nyarko, E., Hara, T., Grab, D.J., Tabata, M., Fukuma, T. (2002). Toxic Effects of Mercury(II), cadmium(II) and lead(II) Porphyrins on Trypanosomabruceibruceigrowth, Chemico-Biological Interactions, 139: 177-185.
33. Nyarko, E., Tabata, M. (2001).  Interactions of Tetracationic Mercury(II), Cadmium(II) and Lead(II) porphyrins with DNA and their effects on DNA cleavage, Journal of Porphyrins &Pthalocyanines, 5: 873-880.
34. Nyarko, E.,Tabata, M., Watanabe, K. (2001). Enhanced DNA cleavage by mercury(II) porphyrin at a low concentration of HaeIII restriction enzyme, Chemistry Letters, 932 – 933.

35.Tabata, M., Nakajima, K., Nyarko, E. (2000). Metalloporphyrin mediated DNA cleavage by a low concentration of HaeIII restriction enzyme, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 78: 383-389.

36.  Armah, A.K., Nyarko, E. (1999). Preliminary studies on amenability of three marine intertidal gastropods to biomonitoring of heavy metal pollution in Ghanaian coastal waters, Journal of the Ghana Science Association, 2: 129-132.

37    .Nyarko, E., Evans, S.M., (1998). Heavy metal pollution in marine molluscs from the coastal waters of Accra, Ghana, Journal of the Ghana Science Association, 1: 105-112.

University Reader Series

38. Nyarko. E, Botwe, B.O., and Mahu, E., (2015). Pollution in the Gulf of Guinea Large Marine Ecosystem. In Ofori- Danson et al., (eds), Assessment and impact of developmental activities on the marine environment and fisheries resources of the Gulf of Guinea. University of Ghana Reader Series#2:43-57.
39. Ofori-Danson, P.K., and Nyarko, E., (2015). Overview of Marine and Fisheries Science Education in the University of Ghana. In Ofori-Danson et al., (eds), Assessment and impact of developmental activities on the marine environment and fisheries resources of the Gulf of Guinea. University of Ghana Reader Series#2:xxiii-xxxii.

Conference Proceedings

40. Armah, A.K., Nyarko, E. (1998). On the Faunal Biodiversity of the Gulf of Guinea large Marine Ecosystem In: Ibe, C., Oteng-Yeboah, A.A., Zabi, S.G. and Afolabi, D. (eds) Integrated Environmental and Living Resources Management in the Gulf of Guinea; Proceedings of the first Symposium of GEF’s Large Marine Ecosystem Project for the Gulf of Guinea, Abidjan, 26-30 January 1998 sponsored by UNIDO, UNDP, NOAA/UNEP, 133-142p, CSIR Printing Division, Accra.
41.  Nyarko, E., Evans, S.M., Armah, A.K. (1998). Pollution from TBT-based Antifouling Paints in the Gulf of Guinea- A Case Study from Ghana, In: Ibe, C., Oteng-Yeboah, A.A., Zabi, S.G. and Afolabi, D. (eds) Integrated Environmental and Living Resources Management in the Gulf of Guinea; Proceedings of the first Symposium of GEF’s Large Marine Ecosystem Project for the Gulf of Guinea, Abidjan, 26-30 January 1998 sponsored by UNIDO, UNDP, NOAA/UNEP, 188-194p, CSIR Printing Division, Accra.
42. Nyarko, E., Evans, S.M. (1997). Impact of Tributyltin and human food gathering on Populations of gastropods Thais haemastoma, and Thais nodosa along the Ghana coast, In: S.M. Evans, C.J. Vanderpuye, and A.K. Armah (eds). The Coastal zone of West Africa: Problems and Management), 93-101p, Penshaw Press, Sunderland, UK.

21. International/ National Technical reports

• Nyarko, E. (2012). Final report of the RAF/7/0008 project for Ghana on “enhancing capability for the assessment of contamination in the marine environment”. Report submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Pp. 45.

• Owusu-Mensah, B. and Nyarko, E (2011).  Economic Assessment of Ballast water for Ghana. Report submitted to the Ghana Maritime Authority through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Pp. 45.

•  Owusu-Mensah, B., Nyarko, E., Nkrumah, J.  (2010). National Ballast Water Rapid Status Assessment. Report Submitted to the the Ghana Maritime Authority through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Pp.55.

• Owusu-Mensah, B., Nyarko, E., Nkrumah, J.  (2010). National Ballast Water Strategy for Ghana. Report Submitted to the Ghana Maritime Authority through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Pp.55