Dr. James Amponsah is a Research Scientist and the Head of the National Tree Seed Centre (NTSC) at CSIR-FORIG. He holds a PhD and an MPhil in Seed Science and Technology (Forest seeds) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana and an MSc in Tropical Forestry from Bangor University, United Kingdom. Dr. Amponsah has undertaken technical training at the Millennium Seed Bank (MSB), under the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, United Kingdom.

His research interests span seed banking and propagation improvement, seed germination modelling, seed traits and characterisation, tree phenology and threatened trees conservation. Dr. Amponsah has also gained extensive experience in silvopastoral systems design and implementation for climate change adaptation and mitigation in Northern Ghana.

He has won and implemented several donor-funded projects both locally and internationally. Additionally, he serves as an External Assessor for the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR). He is member of PhD Candidate Supervisory Committee at the Department of Horticulture, KNUST. He is the Vice President of the Research Staff Association of CSIR-FORIG. He also serves on the “Funding Crew” Committee of the Institute.

Vinceti B., Amponsah J.O., Acquah, S. B., Guuroh R.T., Darko Obiri B., Fremout T., Mijatovic D and Ofori D. A (2024) Tree diversity across Northern Ghana’s cultivated landscapes: supporting agroforestry with a focus on native tree species. Rome (Italy): Bioversity International. 33 p.

Amponsah J. O., Asomaning J. M, Gakpertor P, M Gaveh E.A (2022) Seed germination, storability and moisture sorption isotherms of the endangered African rosewood (Pterocarpus erinaceus), Journal of Forestry and Horticulture, Vol. 14(1), pp. 1-9, DOI: 10.5897/JHF2021.0681.

Asomaning J. M., Amponsah J. O., Peprah, T, Owusu, S. Opoku-Kwarteng, C and Ofori D. A, (2020). Accelerated ageing tests of Nauclea diderrichii seeds: evaluating seed vigour from different forest provenances to aid plus-trees selection in Ghana, Research Journal. of Seed Science, 13: 1-8. DOI: 10.3923/rjss.2020.1.8

Amponsah, J. O., Maleeku B. K., Asomaning J. M., Dgabletey G. D. & Tandoh P. K. (2018) Phenology and seed germination improvement of Terminalia superba and Terminalia ivorensis in a tropical moist forest in Ghana. Ghana Journal of Forestry. (23) 1. 1-8

Tandor P. K., Banful B. K., Gaveh E., Owusu E. S., Opoku P. & Amponsah J. O. (2017) Physiological and biochemical quality response of Sterculia rhinoptella to different storage materials under ambient temperatures Journal of Ecological Research 4 (7) pp16-25

PhD Seed Science and Technology (Forests Seeds) Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (2019-2024)

MSc Tropical Forestry, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom (2016-2018)

MPhil Seed Science and Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (2013-2016)

BSc Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana (2005 – 2009)

Seed Conservation and Propagation Improvement, Threatened Trees Conservation, Silvopastoral Systems and Tree Nursery Establishment and Management

Seed germination improvement techniques and modelling, Species distribution survey and mapping, silvopastoral systems design, early growth performance of tree seedlings.

2024-present Research Scientist, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Forestry Research Institute of Ghana.

2018- 2024 Asistant Research Scientist, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research -Forestry Research Institute of Ghana.

2011-2018- Technical Officer, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research -Forestry Research Institute of Ghana

Head, CSIR-FORIG Tree Nursery, (2022-2024)

Officer- in Charge, Bobiri Forest Reserve and Butterfly Sanctuary (2015-2018)

.2024 Best Scientist Award (Resource Mobilisation), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research -Forestry Research Institute of Ghana.

2023 Best Scientist Award (Resource Mobilisation), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research -Forestry Research Institute of Ghana.

2022- Director’s Special Award, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research -Forestry Research Institute of Ghana.

2022- International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) Fellowship Award, Yokohama Japan.

2018 -Best Worker Technical Grade, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research -Forestry Research Institute of Ghana

2016 -Commonwealth Scholarship Award, Bangor University, UK

2014- International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) Fellowship Award Award, Yokohama, Japan.

Establishment of Bamboo Artefact Production and Research Centre at CSIR-FORIG, Ghana Skills Development Fund (GSDF). 2024-2025

Coordinating and supporting the implementation Ghana’s Threatened Tree Conservation Action Plan, Foundation Franklinia, Switzerland (2023-2026).

Global Tree Seed Bank Unlocked Project, Millennium Seed Bank United Kingdom(2023-2026)

Engaging Communities to Save two Critically Endangered Tree from Extinction in the High Forest Zones of Ghana, Prince Bernhard Nature Fund (2023-2026)

In-situ Conservation of Aubregrinea taiensis and two other tree species in Ghana, Botanical Garden Conservation International (BGCI) United Kingdom, (2022-2026)

Supporting conservation and sustainable trade of threatened timber species, Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, Darwin Initiative, United Kingdom (2024-2027).

Introduction by Grafting of Superior Accessions/Varieties of Local Fruit Trees in Landscapes Under FSRP Integrated Management. World Bank/CORAF, 2024-2027

Research Staff Association (RSA) of CSIR

Ghana Science Association (GSA)

Ghana Society of Seed Science