The Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, through the Public Lectures Committee, has announced the upcoming Professorial Inaugural Lecture to be delivered by Professor Emmanuel Adinyira, a distinguished scholar in construction project management and former Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Built Environment.
Lecture Theme
The lecture, titled “Beyond the Fence: Transferring Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Knowledge from Construction Sites to Host Communities,” will address the pressing issue of how Health, Safety, and Environmental practices often limited to construction sites can be meaningfully extended to surrounding communities.
Prof. Adinyira highlights the paradox in developing contexts where modern contractors operate under strict HSE frameworks, yet the communities living closest to construction activities often remain unaware of basic safety and environmental practices. He argues that this knowledge gap undermines community resilience, health, and sustainability.
The lecture will explore whether superior HSE knowledge can be effectively transferred to host communities, and if so, how such knowledge can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Issues to be Addressed
Key questions to be tackled include:
- Is the transfer of construction HSE knowledge to host communities realistic or impractical?
- What can communities realistically learn from contractors, given their different daily activities?
Using empirical evidence, observations, and a proposed framework, Prof. Adinyira will argue for construction to be reimagined as a platform for empowerment, not just physical development. The lecture will also extend the discussion to HSE within the home environment, offering practical tips to reduce domestic risks and improve health and safety practices.
About Professor Emmanuel Adinyira
Professor Emmanuel Adinyira is widely recognised as the youngest academic in Ghana to attain the rank of professor in construction project management. He has an extensive academic and professional career, with over 250 publications and research contributions spanning Ghana and other developing countries.
His career has been marked by excellence in teaching, mentorship, and international collaboration, with engagements at universities in the UK, South Africa, Sweden, and beyond. He has successfully supervised numerous PhD and MPhil students, shaped construction health and safety curricula, and served on national and international boards.
Prof. Adinyira is also an award-winning researcher and a Fellow of the Ghana Institute of Construction, the Occupational Safety and Health Association (UK), and several other professional bodies. His research impact places him among the top 3% of scientists in Ghana, according to the 2025 AD Scientific Index.
Beyond academia, Prof. Adinyira has been deeply involved in community service, working on development projects across Ghana, and co-founding the ABER Foundation to promote research and advocacy for sustainable urban and peri-urban communities.
Invitation to the Public
The University invites the academic community, policymakers, industry players, and the general public to attend this inaugural lecture, which promises to offer groundbreaking insights into health, safety, environment, and community development.
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