Curator of Ghana Herbarium Retires
The Curator of the Ghana Herbarium, Mr. Patrick K. Ekpe, has retired after serving the University of Ghana for 23 years. Mr. Ekpe joined the University of Ghana in the year, 1998 as a Senior Technician and was promoted to the rank of Principal Technician in 2001; a position he held until his retirement in July, 31st 2021.
The Ghana Herbarium, which is hosted in the Department of Plant and Environmental Biology has the largest preserved plant collections in Ghana, and is arguably the best in the West African Sub-Region. Mr. Patrick K. Ekpe was in-charge (Curator) of the Herbarium until his retirement from the University.
In a send-off ceremony for Mr. Patrick K. Ekpe, the Head of Department of Plant and Environmental Biology, Prof. Alex Asase, lauded the contributions of the retiree to the Department especially in the curation of the Ghana Herbarium and provision of plant identification services. Mr Patrick K. Ekpe also provided plant identification and naming services to units both within and beyond the University of Ghana including the Department of Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Department of Archeology and Heritage Studies, Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Sciences, Forestry Commission, and Ghana Standards Authority. He has also contributed enormously to our current knowledge of the flora of West Africa with botanical expeditions to Cameroon, Senegal, Guinea and Liberia.
Mr. Patrick K. Ekpe receiving a citation from Prof. I. K. Asante
Mr. Patrick K. Ekpe was presented with a citation and a cash donation from the Botany Welfare Fund at the ceremony. He was highly appreciative of the gesture, and indicated his availability to continue to support the work of the Department and broadly the University.
Present at the ceremony were Prof. Francis Gbogbo, Head of Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Sciences, Senior Members and Staff as well as some retirees from the Department. For such a genius, who knows almost all the higher plants in Ghana it is difficult to replace. We can only say Ayeeko to Mr. Patrick K. Ekpe for this meritorious contribution to the University.
Group photograph with Mr. Patrick K. Ekpe after the ceremony