Overview of the Department of Nutrition and Food Science
The Department of Nutrition and Food Science (NFS) is one of five departments within the School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, alongside Animal Biology and Conservation Science, Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology, Plant and Environmental Biology, and Marine and Fisheries Sciences.
NFS trains scientists at the intersection of food and human health, combining chemistry, microbiology, biology, and the behavioural and social sciences. The Department's work spans the full food system, from food composition, processing, and safety, to the nutritional, socio-economic, and cultural determinants of what people eat and how it affects their health. Through its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, NFS produces graduates equipped for careers in food manufacturing and processing, food safety and quality assurance, food analysis, product development, and public health and community nutrition, as well as roles in research institutes, regulatory agencies, and international development organizations.
The Department's research and teaching contribute directly to national and global priorities, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals on Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Responsible Consumption and Production. Faculty collaborate widely with industry, government, and international partners on applied research addressing food safety, food security, and nutrition challenges facing Ghana and the wider African region.
Brief History
The Department of Nutrition and Food Science was established in 1962 with the mandate to train professionals in Nutrition and Food Science for the newly independent Ghana. The department started as Department of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition under the Faculty of Agriculture. Biochemistry was later separated, leaving Nutrition and Food Science as one department. In the 1970s the department became a United Nations University (UNU) affiliate. The departments UNU affiliate status was suspended in the 1990's but was re-established in 2007. The Department is presently in the School of Biological Sciences under the College of Basic and Applied Sciences of the University of Ghana. It offers programmes leading to the award of B.Sc., MPhil or PhD degree in Nutrition or Food Science. The Department’s core mandate is teaching, research and extension in the two disciplines of Nutrition and Food Science.
Vision
To be West Africa's foremost department for Nutrition and Food Science scholarship, shaping food systems that are safe, nutritious, and sustainable.
Mission
To advance knowledge in Nutrition and Food Science through excellent teaching, impactful research, and community engagement, producing graduates and evidence that strengthen food safety, food security, and public health in Ghana and beyond.
Administrative Leadership
See AllProf. Angela Parry-Hanson Kunadu
Head of Department
Prof. Angela Parry-Hanson Kunadu assumed office as Head of the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, on August 1, 2025, and is serving a three-year term ending July 31, 2028. She is a Professor of Food Microbiology and Safety, with research interests in food safety, microbiology, food systems, and public health.
Ms. Yayra Efua Goka
Chief Administrative Assistant
Ms. Yayra Efua Goka assumed office as Chief Administrative Assistant in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, on August 3, 2026. She joined the University in 2008 and has progressed through the administrative ranks, bringing years of experience and professionalism to her role.
Mr. Joseph Yaw Suguwe
Senior Administrative Assistant
Mr. Joseph Yaw Suguwe serves as Senior Administrative Assistant in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, providing administrative and operational support to the Department.
