Dr. (Mrs.) Margaret Amankwah-Poku

Senior Lecturer

Contact info mamankwah-poku@ug.edu.gh

About

Dr. (Mrs.) Margaret Amankwah-Poku is a qualified Clinical and Health Psychologist who has practical experience in clinical psychological practice, teaching, and research. She is a Senior Lecturer and has been teaching and doing research for over 22 years and has been in clinical practice for most of this period, offering psychological support to clients. Dr. Amankwah-Poku’s diligence and hard work have offered her the opportunity to serve on several Boards, as well as Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees at the University of Ghana. She serves as an academic examiner both internally and externally and a reviewer for several international journals. Administratively, she is the Warden of Volta Hall, the only female Hall of residence at the University of Ghana. As a Clinical and Health Psychologist, she is licensed by the Ghana Psychological Council and is also a member of the American Psychological Association. 

Education

  • 2008 - 2013        University of Birmingham- UK.  PhD - Health Psychology
  • 1998 – 2001        University of Ghana, Legon-  MPhil - Clinical Psychology
  • 1993 - 1997        University of Ghana, Legon- B.A Hons. - Psychology with Religions

Research Interest

  • Psychosocial aspect of diabetes management, HIV/AIDS, psycho-oncology and other physical illnesses.
  • Palliative care support, nutrition and dietary intake
  • Cross-cultural influences of eyewitness reports.

Publications

  1. Klutsey D.A., Amankwah-Poku M, Quarshie, EN-B., Asante, K.O. (2025). Common mental health outcomes and access to support services among adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A protocol for a systematic review. BMJ Open15:e 092510. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-092510.
  2. Amankwah-Poku, M., Gordon-Mensah, G., & Klutsey, D.A. & Asante, K.O. (2025). Managing type 2 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana: a qualitative study.Cardiovascular Diabetology – Endocrinology Reports, 11:5 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40842-024-00213-5
  3. Klutsey, D.A., Amankwah-Poku, M., & Asante, K.O. (2024). The mediating role of duration of disclosure in the relationship between disclosure and psychological wellbeing among children living with HIV in Accra, Ghana. Ghana Social Science, 21 (2): 41-49
  4. Anakwah, N., Horselenberg, R., Hope, L., Amankwah-Poku, M., & van Koppen, P. (2024). A Cross-Cultural and Intra-Cultural Investigation of the Misinformation Effect in Eyewitness Memory Reports. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 38:e4243. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.4243
  5. Anakwah, N., Horselenberg, R., Hope, L., Amankwah-Poku, M., & van Koppen, P. (2024). The effect of authority on eyewitness memory reports across cultures. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, DOI:10.1080/13218719.2024.2362133
  6. Amankwah-Poku, M., (2023). Becoming a psychologist: A Reflection of how my journey began and my experiences. In C. S. Akotia, & E. N. Quarshie, (Editors). Women in Psychology in Ghana: An Autobiographical Collection (pp180-214). Sub-Saharan Publishers.
  7. Dadzie, H.A.N, Teye-Kwadjo, E., Asant, K.O., Amankwah-Poku, M., Anarfi Gyasi-Gyamerah, A., Akotia, C. S., Osafo, J., Amankwaa-Frimpong, E., Roomaney, R., Kagee, A. (2023). Psychological Factors with Mental Adjustment to Breast Cancer: A Hospital-Based Observational Study. Illness, Crisis & Loss. https://doi.org/10.1177/10541373231176018.
  8. Ofei, D.S., Teye-Kwadjo, E., Amankwah-Poku, M., Anarfi Gyasi-Gyamerah, A., Akotia, C. S., Osafo, J., Roomaney, R., Kagee, A. (2023). Determinants of Post-Traumatic Growth and Quality of Life in Ghanaian Breast Cancer Survivors. Cancer Investigation. https://doi.org/10.1080/07357907.2023.2181636.
  9. Klutsey, D.A., Amankwah-Poku, M., & Asante, K.O. (2021). To disclose or not to disclose? Caregivers experiences of disclosure of HIV status of children living with HIV in Accra, Ghana. Lifestyle Medicine, 2021;e40.  https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.40.
  10. Amankwah-Poku, M., Klutsey, D.A. & Asante, K.O. (2021) Disclosure and health‑related outcomes among children living with HIV and their caregivers. AIDS Research and Therapy, 18:13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-021-00337-z