Professor Abeku Blankson is a globally recognized scholar, practitioner and university administrator with an extensive multidisciplinary background in communications, public relations, environmental studies, and geography and resource development. He holds a PhD in Communication (2000) and an M.A in International Affairs/Relations (1995) degrees from Ohio University, USA, an MPhil in Development Geography (1993) and Certificate in Environmental Studies (1989) degrees from University of Oslo, Norway, and a Bachelor of Arts (honors) degree in Geography and Resource Development (1987) from the University of Ghana.
After spending over 30 years in Norway and the United States, Professor Blankson and his family returned to Ghana in 2016 to contribute to the country’s development, particularly in higher education. While in the United States, Professor Blankson taught a variety of communication courses and served as Special Advisor to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He also served as the Chair and the Director of Technology at the Department of Applied Communication Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), and Resident Director at Ohio University, USA. In Ghana, he first served as AUCC’s Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Dean of the School of Communication Studies. This was followed by his appointment as the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU). In September 2021, Professor Blankson rejoined AUCC as its President.
Professor Blankson is a co- Founder and President of Data Insight Africa, a non-profit/non-governmental research organization established to undertake social and business research for organisations in Ghana and beyond. He is also a Consultant and Resource person for organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency, serves as the Chairman of the Board of Ghana Innovation Hub (the E-Transform Project by the Ministry of Communications and the World Bank) and the Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS) in Accra. He currently serves as chairman or member of many committees and councils both here in Ghana and overseas.
Professor Blankson’s primary teaching and research engagements are in communication technologies, social media and electronic communication applications, crisis communication, media studies, environmental communication, and public relations. He has authored several publications and conference papers and is co-editor of several books, including Public Relations Management in Africa Volume 1: Exploring Organisational Impact and Public Relations Management in Africa Volume 2. The Practical, the Conceptual and the Empirical both published by Palgrave Macmillan, and Negotiating Democracy: Media Transformations in Emerging Democracies published by SUNY press.
Professor Blankson consults, organizes and facilitates training and capacity building workshops for organizations in areas such as social and business research, social media/communication technology applications, electronic communication applications, business and technical communication, crisis management, media/broadcasting, public relations, environmental communication, climate change and adaptation, and public speaking and presentation. He also consults on educational management, curricular and program development, quality assessment, and others.
Professor Blankson is married to Dr. Mrs. Faustina Hayford Blankson, a lecturer at the University of Ghana and Founder and President of The Ayensua Health Enrichment Foundation. They have two sons and three grandchildren, all residing in the United States. At his spare time, he enjoys being with family, sports and coaching football.
