Alumni Spotlight: Prof. Emelia Oppong Bekoe

I am currently an Associate Professor in Pharmacognosy, with expertise also in research management, administration, and leadership. My research focuses on studies on herbal medicines at the Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, University of Ghana.

My research experience in Germany

My research primarily centers on the field of pharmacognosy, which involves the investigations of natural substances to identify potential sources of drugs. Over the course of several years, I have been actively involved in diverse research activities related to medicinal plants and their applications. For my PhD studies, I conducted investigations into the wound healing potential of Ghanaian medicinal plants, with a particular focus on Combretum mucronatum, from 2011 to 2014, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). This study involved extensive phytochemical characterization and the development of novel analytical methods. My research interests encompass a wide range of areas, including investigations into mutagenic activity, antimicrobial activities, wound healing activities, anti-helminthic activity, standardization of herbal medicines, monograph development for herbal medicines, and ethnopharmacological studies, among others. Through collaborative research, I have worked with various research teams in several countries including Ghana, Benin, Germany among others.

I maintain close connections with several colleagues, particularly the research team I collaborated with during my PhD studies at the Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, University of Muenster. I frequently make brief research visits as part of our ongoing collaborative projects.

My outlook on higher education and internationalization

Higher education plays a crucial role in the development of any society, and I anticipate a future where it will be the foremost priority in our society. We must make conscientious efforts to harness its full potential for the benefit of Africa. I hope there will be increased resources to support internationalization efforts, expanded partnerships with institutions worldwide, improved access to study abroad for students and especially early career scientists, and a strong commitment to fostering an inclusive campus environment for students and faculty from diverse culture. This efforts will be to ultimately equip students with the skills and knowledge to thrive in an international world.