The University Council of Central University has appointed Professor Samuel Kwasi Dartey-Baah as the next Vice Chancellor. His appointment takes effect from 1st September 2025, for an initial term of 5years.
The University Council, at its 35th meeting, per the provisions of Section 16 of the Statutes of Central University, 2023, unanimously accepted the recommendations of the Search Party, Chaired by Prof. Kwesi Yankah, which recommended Professor Samuel Kwasi Dartey-Baah as the most suitable candidate to lead the University into the future, adding that Professor Samuel Kwasi Dartey-Baah eminently distinguished himself throughout the search process.
Professor Dartey-Baah is a distinguished academic, leadership scholar, and organisational development expert with a career that spans both academia and professional consultancy.
Professor Dartey-Baah’s academic credentials are vast and multi-disciplinary. He holds dual PhDs in Leadership and Human Resource Development from Trinity College (USA) and Canterbury University (UK), as well as a PhD in Business Management and Administration from the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa). He earned a Master of Science in Engineering from Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.
Professor Dartey-Baah served as Director of Institutional Advancement at the University of Ghana, where he also held key leadership roles, including two-term Head of the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management at the University of Ghana Business School. His national contributions include chairing the National Strategic Planning Committee of the Ghana Institution of Engineering, serving on its Council and the Grievance and Review Committee of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.
Professor Kwasi Dartey-Baah is widely recognised for his leadership in diverse organisational settings, where he emphasises excellence, collaboration, integrity and sustainability. As Chair of committees at the University of Ghana, including the UGBS Infrastructure Committee, he has played a key role in shaping policies for the modernisation of academic programmes and infrastructure.
Professor Dartey-Baah’s consulting background in Engineering and Management uniquely informs his role as a Lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School, particularly in the areas of Organisational Behaviour, Leadership and Project Management at the postgraduate level. His extensive experience in managing complex, multi-disciplinary projects allows him to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world challenges, providing invaluable practical insights into project execution and organisational leadership.
Professor Dartey-Baah is deeply committed to the professional growth of students, faculty members and organisational leaders. He has mentored numerous individuals in their leadership journeys and is a sought-after trainer and speaker in the areas of leadership development, emotional intelligence, organisational resilience and strategic management. He introduced the Deans and Directors Conference at the University of Ghana, which offers a platform for senior academic leaders to address critical challenges in higher education management and leadership.
Prior to joining the University of Ghana in 2010, Professor Dartey-Baah worked with leading consultancy firms in the United Kingdom, including JMP Consulting and Colin Buchanan & Partners, where he served in a partnership role and led major multi-disciplinary projects.
Beyond academia, Professor Dartey-Baah demonstrates his leadership through involvement in various community initiatives, including serving as Chair of the Strategic Leadership Platform of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), serving on the Ghana Fellowship of Evangelical Students (GHAFES) Board and other educational and community service projects.
Professor Dartey-Baah has authored over 70 publications and is globally recognised for his development of the Transfor-sactional Leadership Theory, a groundbreaking framework that integrates transformational and transactional leadership to address complex organisational challenges. He is also credited for his reverse analysis of Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory. His research has reshaped leadership studies and organisational development, earning him a reputation as a global thought leader. His professional affiliations include being a Fellow of the Ghana Institution of Management, a Corporate Member of the Ghana Institution of Engineering, a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Transport in London and a Member of the Institution of Highways and Transportation in London.
He succeeds Professor Bill Buenar Puplampu, under whose capable leadership, Central University has experienced remarkable stability and growth
The University extends its deepest gratitude to Professor Puplampu for his exemplary service and warmly welcomes Professor Dartey-Baah to the Central University community.