Peter Twumasi

Peter Twumasi is a Ghanaian biochemist and professor at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) who was Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) from 10 December 2018 to 26 February 2024. At just over five years, it is the longest run in the job since 2013.

A scientist from KNUST and Wageningen

Born on 25 May 1974, he took a first degree in biochemistry at KNUST and went on to a master's degree and a PhD at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He joined KNUST as a lecturer in 2007 and headed its Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology from August 2017 to January 2019.

He was president of the Kumasi branch of the Ghana Science Association from 2011 to 2015 and spent three months at Amity University in India on a C. V. Raman research fellowship. He has more than 60 publications and five books to his name. His memoir, Rising from the Farmhouse, was launched in 2019 by the then Vice-President, Mahamudu Bawumia.

Five years over the stadiums

The Sports Minister, Isaac Asiamah, announced his appointment in a statement on 6 December 2018, after Robert Sarfo-Mensah resigned. The deputy, Abdul Majeed Bawa, had been acting. KNUST gave Twumasi sabbatical leave from January 2019 to December 2021.

According to his published profile, he oversaw the construction of 10 multipurpose stadiums and 65 astroturf pitches. The condition of the main stadiums drew steady criticism from football fans.

Audit findings

An Auditor-General's report said he had received more than GH¢140,000 in salary from both KNUST and the NSA while on sabbatical. It also noted that an official vehicle valued at GH¢150,000 was stolen from a Kumasi hotel in September 2019 and that management could not produce a police report. A group of staff also sent an 11-point petition about him to the board and the ministry. He had earlier denied drawing a double salary when the pressure group ASEPA raised the matter.

Politics and exit

Twumasi has held several posts in the New Patriotic Party in the Ashanti Region, including communication officer for Oforikrom. He sought the party's parliamentary ticket for Ahafo Ano South West ahead of the 2024 election and received seven votes in the primary.

His son, Jim Ofori Twumasi, a final-year economics student at KNUST, died on 15 February 2024. A letter from the Presidency dated 26 February 2024 named Dodzie Numekevor to the post, and news reports said Twumasi had been relieved of his duties. He is on the list of Directors-General of the National Sports Authority.