The slow hard work of societal impact I: on needles and threads.

What does it take to translate academic research into valuable resources and elements for societal engagement (and hopefully some societal impact)? In the past couple of months - actually since December 2024 up to now - I have been doing a sort of autoethnography in search of answers to this question. During this time, I … Continue reading The slow hard work of societal impact I: on needles and threads.

Vacancy Notice: Postdoctoral researcher for ‘Tourism’s intersection with slavery and colonial heritage in the context of cultural memory politics’

In Ghana (Akan Twi) we say that "Ti koro nko agyina" which literally means that "One head (person) does not hold council.". We also know that two is often better than one. In this context, I am delighted to announce that I am now recruiting for a postdoctoral researcher as many hands makes light work. … Continue reading Vacancy Notice: Postdoctoral researcher for ‘Tourism’s intersection with slavery and colonial heritage in the context of cultural memory politics’

This piece or that piece? The art of recruiting and puzzling an ERC FRICTIONS PhD research team together.

How do recruitment managers do this? How do they sort through CVs upon CVs of highly qualified candidates in order to shortlist the few that might proceed into the interview stage? How do they make the final decision after witnessing the brilliance of all the shortlisted candidates during the interviews? Flip a coin and hope … Continue reading This piece or that piece? The art of recruiting and puzzling an ERC FRICTIONS PhD research team together.

Vacancy Notice: Three PhD positions for the ERC project, ‘The generative tensions of slavery and colonial heritage tourism’

I am excited to annouce that I am recruiting for 3 PhD positions on my ERC Starting Grant Project which are to start from September 2025. The vacancy details are below and have been published on the Wageningen University website and Academictransfer.nl https://www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/three-phd-positions-for-the-erc-project-the-generative-tensions-of-slavery-and-colonial-heritage-tourism.htm https://www.academictransfer.com/en/346580/three-phd-positions-for-the-erc-project-the-generative-tensions-of-slavery-and-colonial-heritage-tourism/ Check out the details if this is something for you or … Continue reading Vacancy Notice: Three PhD positions for the ERC project, ‘The generative tensions of slavery and colonial heritage tourism’

“If it must be done, it must be done well..”: my talk at the opening of the academic year at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in the Hague.

A week ago on Friday 3 September, I had the honour and privilege of speaking at the opening of the MA programme in Development Studies and the Mundus MA in Public Policy at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in the Hague, The Netherlands. It was an honour because the ISS is my alma … Continue reading “If it must be done, it must be done well..”: my talk at the opening of the academic year at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in the Hague.

Reflections on the PhD journey: an academic life story

This is a short article I wrote (without the cartoons) for the University of Sheffield Doctoral Times Magazine. The final formatted version has been published and accessible from here  https://www.flipsnack.com/Tuostimes/doctoral-times-issue-17.html (Pg. 13)   It was during my undergraduate days in Ghana that I developed the romantic idea of becoming an academic. At that time, I saw being … Continue reading Reflections on the PhD journey: an academic life story

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20) Looking back on it, that evening of 7th March, 2013 opened a great door for me. On that evening, after over two years of searching, applications and interviews, I finally received an email stating that I … Continue reading Thank you, thank you, thank you!

What is the summary of your PhD thesis?

As I edge ever closer to the submission date of my PhD thesis, I can now relax a bit. I can afford to look back on a bizarre incidence that happened to me on Thursday 29 September, 2016. I had a scheduled meeting with my supervisor in the late afternoon but I decided to go … Continue reading What is the summary of your PhD thesis?

Cape Chronicles II: Johnny Just Come

It has already been a week since I arrived in the Mother City but I still feel like 'Johnny Just Come' (JJC)! But this is not the usual JJC syndrome of being in awe and not knowing how things work. My JJC is more psychological and I realise that it goes back to the cold … Continue reading Cape Chronicles II: Johnny Just Come

Cape Chronicles I – Sarafina! and predeparture briefing

For the next 5 weeks I have the privilege of calling Cape Town my home. I am embarking on a research visit to the University of Cape Town and will be hosted by the African Centre for Cities. The aim of my research visit is to explore the planning issues associated with the use of tourism for … Continue reading Cape Chronicles I – Sarafina! and predeparture briefing