Dr. (Mrs.) Margaret Amankwah-Poku is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Psychology. She is a qualified Clinical and Health Psychologist who has practical experience in clinical psychological practice, teaching and research.
Dr. Amankwah-Poku graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with Religions in and an MPhil in Clinical Psychology, all at the University of Ghana. After her MPhil degree, Dr. Amankwah-Poku was employed at the National Diabetes Research and Management Centre from 2001 to 2002 where she worked as a Research Officer. She then worked as a Counsellor with the Counselling and Support Unit of the National Reconciliation Commission between 2002 and 2003. She joined the Department of Psychology, University of Ghana in October 2003.
In 2008 she went on to pursue a PhD in Health Psychology at the University of Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. She later returned to the Department of Psychology in 2013 to continue teaching. Most of her students have expressed the pleasure of being taught by her and over time, have appreciated how meticulous she is. In 2017, Dr. Amankwah-Poku was voted “Students’ Favourite Lecturer” by the Students’ Union of the Department of Psychology (UNIGAPS).
Dr. Amankwah-Poku worked as an Examination Officer during her early years at the Department. Presently, she is the PhD Coordinator for the Department. She also represents the Department on the University’s Academic Board. Dr. Amankwah-Poku has served on the School of Social Sciences International Conference Planning Committees for over eight years. She is also a member of the University’s Business and Executive Committee. Currently, she the Warden of Volta Hall.
Dr. (Mrs.) Margaret Amankwah-Poku interested in collaborative research with national and international researchers. You can contact her via email: mamankwah-poku@ug.edu.gh, or on the Legon Campus at the Department of Psychology, University of Ghana.
Research Area(s) (including ongoing research).
Dr. (Mrs.) Margaret Amankwah-Poku did her research work for her MPhil degree on Diabetes and Stress because of the interest she had developed while learning about the psychological aspects of physical illness during her course work. She further research on Diabetes and Dietary self-care for her PhD and to date, she has continued with research on the psychosocial aspect of diabetes and other physical illnesses. Her other areas of research interest are, Nutrition and Dietary intake and Psychosocial Correlates; Palliative Care and Psychological Support, Behaviours, Attitudes towards Environmental Sanitation and Eye Witness Reports and Cross-cultural Influences.
Teaching
Courses Previous Taught
Psyc 222 Theories of Psychology
Psyc 224 Experimental Psychology
Psyc 337 Psychology of Learning
Psyc 333 Psychology of Personality
Psyc 309 Practical in Learning
Psyc 447 Educational Psychology
Psyc 495 Research Seminar
Psyc 490 Research Project
Psyc 604 Systems and Theories in Psychology
Current Courses Taught
Psyc 463 Health Psychology
Psyc 495 Research Seminar
Psyc 490 Research Project
Psyc 603 Research Methods
Psyc 625 Group Counselling
Psyc 634 Personality Development
ESSS 603 Issues in Environmental Sanitation
Scientific Publications (Journal Articles, Book Chapters, Books )
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Amankwah-Poku, M., (2021) Akpalu, J., Sefa-Dedeh, A, & Amoah A. G. B. (2021) Psychosocial barriers to well-being and quality of life among type 2 diabetes patients in Ghana. Lifestyle Medicine, 2:e33. https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.33 .
4. Amankwah-Poku, M. (2020). COVID-19-related health behaviour changes among Ghanaians: applying the health belief model. Health Science Investigations Journal, 1(2), 135-138. http://doi.org/10.46829/hsijournal.2020.12.1.2.135-138 .
5. Amankwah-Poku, M., Amoah, A. G. B., Sefa-Dedeh, A., & Akpalu, J. (2020). Psychosocial distress, clinical variables and self-management activities associated with type 2 diabetes: a study in Ghana. Clinical Diabetes and Endocrinology, 6:14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40842-020-00102-7 .
6. Anakwah, N., Horselenberg, R., Hope, L., & Amankwah-Poku, M., van Koppen, P. (2020). The acculturation effect and eyewitness memory reports among migrants. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 25(2): 237-256. https://doi.org/10.1111/lcrp.12179 .
7. Amankwah-Poku, M. & Ofori George. (2020). “People have been paid to sweep the place!”- Exploring the antecedents of littering behaviour in Ghana. Ghana Social Science Journal, 17(1), 93-107.
8. Amankwah-Poku, M. (2020). Wavering diabetes diet: “I break the diet and then I feel guilty and then I don’t go back to it, in case I feel guilty again”. Sage Open, January-March, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020914577
9. Anakwah, N., Horselenberg, R., Hope, L., & Amankwah-Poku, M., van Koppen, P. (2020). Cross-cultural differences in eyewitness memory reports. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 34:504–515. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3637.
10. Salifu-Yendork, J., Owusu Boadu, S., Amankwah-Poku, M., & Osei-Tutu, A. (2019). Forgiveness in children placed in children's homes: Understanding, process and motivation for forgiveness, Child Care in Practice. https://doi.org/10.1080/13575279.2019.
11. Amankwah-Poku, M. (2019). A cross-sectional study of knowledge and awareness of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a student population in Ghana: do demographics and lifestyle make a difference. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 7:(1), 234-252. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2019.1637261
12. Quaidoo, E. Y. Ohemeng, A., & Amankwah-Poku, M. (2018). Weight perceptions, weight management practices, and nutritional status of emerging adults living in the Accra metropolis. BMC Nutrition, 4:53. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-018-0265-4.
13. Quaidoo, E. Y., Ohemeng, A., & Amankwah-Poku, M. (2018). Sources of nutrition information and level of nutrition knowledge among young adults in the Accra metropolis. BMC Public Health, 18:1323. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6159-1.
14. Amankwah-Poku, M. (2013). Type 2 Diabetes and Dietary Self-Care: The Role of Negative Emotions. Ghana International Journal of Mental Health, 4 & 5, 95-104.
Conference Proceedings
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. 7th School of Social Science International Conference, 3rd – 4th November, 2021.
Extension Activities (If Any)
Service to the University
Warden - Volta Hall
University of Ghana Business and Executive Committee- Member, Representing University Academic Board
University Academic Board- Member, Representing Department of Psychology
School of Social Sciences- Member, Mentoring Affiliate Institutions
External Examiner- University of Cape Coast
University of Cape Town
University of Kwa-Zulu Natal