Prof. (Mrs.) Lydia A. Nkansah is the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Kumasi’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. She previously worked as a lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), where she taught constitutionalism and legislative procedure to members of Ghana and Liberian parliaments.
At GIMPA, she assisted in the establishment of Ghana’s third public law school. She was involved in the establishment of the Law Faculty in Nigeria’s Ondo State. Prof. Nkansah has taught courses on human rights, transitional justice, and the law of armed conflict at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College and at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.
She was a member of the Ghana National Commission on Children and the Ghana Institute of Languages’ Board of Directors. She has worked in the field of human rights in both peace and post-conflict situations.
She was a Senior Legal Officer at the Ghana Human Rights Commission and the Head of the Research Unit of the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was established by the Sierra Leone government in collaboration with the United Nations for transitional justice to address human rights abuses that occurred during the country’s civil war.
She was also an International Expert Advisor to the Liberian Transitional Legislative Assembly on the Truth and Reconciliation Bill for Transitional Justice on Human Rights Abuse during the Liberian War. She has published in the areas of constitutional law, transitional justice, legal theory, legal research method, democratization, and electoral laws, international criminal justice, and consumer protection among others.
Qualifications(Degree/Education)
| Qualification | Period |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) 1985 – 1998 Ekpoma, Nigeria | Jul. 1988 |
| Barrister-at-Law (B. L), Lagos, Nigeria Oct., 1988-1989 | Oct. 1989 |
| Barrister-at-Law (B.L.) (Post-Call), Accra Ghana, May-Sept 1990 | Sep. 1990 |
| Master of Laws, (LL.M.) Ekpoma, Nigeria 1990-1991 | Jul. 1991 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) , Minneapolis, USA, 2003-2008 | Jul. 2008 |
Institutions of Study
- WALDEN UNIVERSITY, Minneapolis, USA
- BENDEL STATE UNIVERSITY, Ekpoma, Nigeria
- GHANA SCHOOL OF LAW, Accra, Ghana
- NIGERIAN LAW SCHOOL, Lagos, Nigeria
- BENDEL STATE UNIVERSITY, Ekpoma, Nigeria
Areas of Specialisms
- Constitutional Law
- International Criminal Justice
- Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Peace Building
- Democracy and Electoral Laws
- International Law
- Human Rights Law
- Women’s Human Rights
- African Union Law
- Conflict of Laws
- Consumer Protection and Legal Research Methods
Research Areas/Interests
Primary Interest: Constitutional Law, International Criminal Justice, Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Peace Building, Democracy and Electoral Laws.
Secondary Interest: International Law, Human Rights Law, Women’s Human Rights, African Union Law, Conflict of Laws, Consumer Protection and Legal Research Methods.
Employment Records
| Employment | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY | Oct 2010 | current |
| KPN LAW CONSULT, A FIRM OF LEGAL PRACTITIONERS, KUMASI, GHANA | Jul 2014 | current |
| GHANA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (GIMPA) | Jul 2001-Jul 2010 | past |
| LIBERIAN NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (NTLA) COMMITTEE ON THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION BILL | Jul 2005- | past |
| THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR SIERRA LEONE (TRC), UNDP, | Mar 2003-Dec 2003 | past |
| COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE (CHRAJ) | Jul 1994-Jul 2001 | past |
| ONDO STATE UNIVERSITY, NIGERIA | Jul 1992-Jul 1994 | past |
| BENTSI-ENCHILL & LETSA, A FIRM OF LEGAL PRACTITIONERS | Jul 1990- | past |
- Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (2001-2010)
- Ondo State University, Nigeria (1992-1994)
Positions Held & Hold
- Chairperson, KNUST Legal Advisory Committee, July 2021- date
- Member, GIMPA Search Committee for the appointment of Dean of Business School.
- Chairperson GTECT Accreditation Panel on University of Ghana School of Law on Bachelor of Laws and Master of Law ADR Programme, May 2021
- Member KNUST Committee on TEK Credit Union, 2020
- Mentor for the African Academy of Sciences, 2020
- Chairperson, Committee to investigate allegation of Misconduct, 2020
- Chairperson, Committee of Inquiry on Asante Kotoko Sporting Club, 2020
- Member of Board, KNUST School of Graduate Studies, 2019-present
- Chairperson, 15 Anniversary Planning Committee of Faculty of Law, KNUST, 2019
- External Examiner, Faculty of Law, Central University College, 2017/2018 Academic Year
- Member Research Committee, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2019
- Member, Advisory Board, University of Cape Coast, Law Journal, 2018-present
- Member, Editorial Advisory Group, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2018-present
- Eternal Examiner, Faculty of Law, Cape Coast University, 2017
- Member, Appointment and Promotions Committee, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, KNUST, 2017.
- Member, Editorial Board, Noun International Journal of Private & Property Law, (NIJPPL), 2017-present
- Judge, 2017 Philip C Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (Ghana Qualifying Rounds, February 7-9, GIMPA, Accra.
- Member Postgraduate Committee, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, KNUST, 2016-date
- Chairperson, Convocation Health Insurance Technical Committee, KNUST (2016-2017)
- Editor-in-Chief, KNUST Law Journal, 2015-date
- Dean, Faculty of Law, KNUST, from August 2015 –date
- Member, General Legal Council, Ghana, 2015-date
- Chairman of Board, (CHRALER) Centre for Human Rights and Advanced Legal Research, 2015- date
- KNUST Moderator for the Bachelor of Laws Degree Programme at the Wisconsin University College, Accra, Ghana 2014- 2016.
- Member, Committee of Enquiry to Investigate Allegations Levelled against Dr. Harry Barton Essel by NAFTI, 2014.
- Member, Editorial Board, African Journal of International Criminal Justice, 2014-date
- Member, Committee to investigate Allegation of Misconduct against Guard Grade I ATTA FOTUA JNR, of the KNUST Security Services, 2013.
- Member a Technical Committee to draft a PHD programme for the College of Art and Social Sciences, 2012.
- Head of Department of Commercial Law, Faculty of Law, KNUST, 2011-2015.
Awards and Recognition
- Recipient of KNUST conference grant for the forthcoming workshop on Gender and Judging in the Middle East and Africa: Emerging Scholarship and Debates to be held on 5 & 6 July, 2018 in Onati, Spain, organised by the Institute of Sociology of Law, Spain.
- Recipient of grant from the United States National Science Foundation for the Annual Institute for the Qualitative and Multi-Method Research held from June 15-26, 2015 in Syracuse University, USA.
- Recipient of grant from Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) for the 14th CODESRIA Council held from 8-12 June, 2015 in Senegal.
- Recipient of grant from the Ford Foundation and Anonymous Vermont donor for Restorative Justice, Responsive Regulation, & Complex Problems Conference, held from July 15-18, 2014 at University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA, organised by University of Vermont and partners.
- Recipient of the Royal Bank-CASS Awards for being the best researcher in the College of Humanity and Social Sciences at KNUST for the 2014/2015 Academic Year.
- Recipient of grant from the Government of Rwanda and partners for the 2nd International Conference on Democratic Governance in Africa, Asia and Middle East, held from 30th June to 3rd July, 2014, in Kigali, Rwanda.
- Recipient of grant from the African Foundation of International Law and KNUST for the Conference on International Law in Africa on “The Quest for Human Security, Peace and Development: Challenges and Responses”, held from 5th-6th October, 2012 in Mozambique.
- Recipient of grant from KNUST for Conference on Preparing Students for the Practice of Law, Organized by Academics Promoting the Pedagogy of Effective Advocacy in Law (APPEAL) and University of Zululand, from December 7-9, 2011 in Mtunzini, South Africa.
- Recipient of grant from KNUST and American Political Science Association (APSA) for the 2011 APSA annual conference in Seattle, USA.
- Recipient of grant from European Conference on Africa Studies (ECAS 4 Conference) and KNUST for the Fourth European Conference on African Studies, on ‘Africa’s Engagement: On Whose Terms’, organized by The Nordic Africa Institute from June 14 -18, 2011 in Uppsala, Sweden.
- Fellowship awarded by the Mellon Foundation and facilitated by the American Political Science Association (APSA) for the African Workshop on Global Perspectives on Politics and Gender, organised by APSA from July 19 to August 6, 2010 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
12. Recipient of the 2008 Harold L. Hodgkinson Award for outstanding Dissertation; Walden University’s outstanding dissertation honour bestowed annually upon a Walden graduate whose dissertation is judged as meeting the highest university standards of academic excellence, 2008.
13. Recipient of Pi Alpha Alpha National Honour Society membership, United States of America. Admission based on outstanding performance in doctoral studies, 2006 to date
14. Recipient: Association of African Universities Commission Small Grants Scheme, 2005.
15. Recipient, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration PHD Grant, 2003.
16. Recipient: Half GETFUND (Government Ghana Scholarship) award by the Scholarship Secretariat, Ghana, 2005-2007.
17. Recipient, French Government award for training in “Protection of Human Rights” at the Institut International Administration Publique, France, 2001.
18. Recipient; Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) best worker’s award for the Protection and Enforcement Unit of CHRAJ, 2000.
19. Co-Winner, Paul Ehizokhale Foundation Award for the best student in Commercial law, 1988, Bendel State University.
Associations/Affiliations (Contribution & Current Position)
- Ghana Bar Association 1990 to date
- Nigerian Bar Association 1989 to date
- American Association of Public Administrators 2005 to date
- African Politics Conference Group of APSA 2010 to date
- The American Political Science Association 2011 to date
- World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 2010 to date
Grants/Funds Awarded
- Recipient of KNUST conference grant for the forthcoming workshop on Gender and Judging in the Middle East and Africa: Emerging Scholarship and Debates to be held on 5 & 6 July, 2018 in Onati, Spain, organised by the Institute of Sociology of Law, Spain.
- Recipient of grant from the United States National Science Foundation for the Annual Institute for the Qualitative and Multi-Method Research held from June 15-26, 2015 in Syracuse University, USA.
- Recipient of grant from Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) for the 14th CODESRIA Council held from 8-12 June, 2015 in Senegal.
- Recipient of grant from the Ford Foundation and Anonymous Vermont donor for Restorative Justice, Responsive Regulation, & Complex Problems Conference, held from July 15-18, 2014 at University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA, organised by University of Vermont and partners.
- Recipient of the Royal Bank-CASS Awards for being the best researcher in the College of Humanity and Social Sciences at KNUST for the 2014/2015 Academic Year.
- Recipient of grant from the Government of Rwanda and partners for the 2nd International Conference on Democratic Governance in Africa, Asia and Middle East, held from 30th June to 3rd July, 2014, in Kigali, Rwanda.
- Recipient of grant from the African Foundation of International Law and KNUST for the Conference on International Law in Africa on “The Quest for Human Security, Peace and Development: Challenges and Responses”, held from 5th-6th October, 2012 in Mozambique.
- Recipient of grant from KNUST for Conference on Preparing Students for the Practice of Law, Organized by Academics Promoting the Pedagogy of Effective Advocacy in Law (APPEAL) and University of Zululand, from December 7-9, 2011 in Mtunzini, South Africa.
- Recipient of grant from KNUST and American Political Science Association (APSA) for the 2011 APSA annual conference in Seattle, USA.
- Recipient of grant from European Conference on Africa Studies (ECAS 4 Conference) and KNUST for the Fourth European Conference on African Studies, on ‘Africa’s Engagement: On Whose Terms’, organized by The Nordic Africa Institute from June 14 -18, 2011 in Uppsala, Sweden.
- Fellowship awarded by the Mellon Foundation and facilitated by the American Political Science Association (APSA) for the African Workshop on Global Perspectives on Politics and Gender, organised by APSA from July 19 to August 6, 2010 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
- Recipient of the 2008 Harold L. Hodgkinson Award for outstanding Dissertation; Walden University’s outstanding dissertation honour bestowed annually upon a Walden graduate whose dissertation is judged as meeting the highest university standards of academic excellence, 2008.
- Recipient of Pi Alpha Alpha National Honour Society membership, United States of America. Admission based on outstanding performance in doctoral studies, 2006 to date
- Recipient: Association of African Universities Commission Small Grants Scheme, 2005.
- Recipient, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration PHD Grant, 2003.
- Recipient: Half GETFUND (Government Ghana Scholarship) award by the Scholarship Secretariat, Ghana, 2005-2007.
- Recipient, French Government award for training in “Protection of Human Rights” at the Institut International Administration Publique, France, 2001.
- Recipient; Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) best worker’s award for the Protection and Enforcement Unit of CHRAJ, 2000.
- Co-Winner, Paul Ehizokhale Foundation Award for the best student in
- Commercial law, 1988, Bendel State University.
Research Projects (Current and Past)
- Women’s Access to Justice in Pluralistic Legal System of Ghana
- Women and the Law in Conflict Situations: Does the Law Protect?
- Democratic Transition in Ghana
- International Criminal Justice in Africa.
- Constitutional and Administrative Law in Ghana.
- African Union Law Research.