Ashesi is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Philip Kofi Adom as Professor and Head of the Economics Department. Dr. Adom is an economist and academic leader with expertise in energy economics, environmental policy, and sustainable development. He joins Ashesi with over a decade of experience in teaching, research, and policy advisory work across Africa, Europe, and Asia.
He holds a PhD in Economics from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, where his doctoral thesis on Energy Demand Management in Selected African Countries earned the prestigious Global Swede Award. Dr. Adom also earned an MPhil in Economics from the University of Ghana and a B.Ed. in Social Sciences (Economics) from the University of Cape Coast.
“My first encounter with Ashesi exceeded every expectation,” says Dr. Adom. “I was inspired by the strong ethical culture, the collegiality across the community, and the intellectually vibrant environment shaped by a deep commitment to student development.”
“As I left the campus that day, I had a firm conviction: my child should experience the Ashesi education, or I would join the faculty,” he added. “My goal is to help build a globally respected Department of Economics that advances excellence in teaching and produces rigorous, policy-relevant research grounded in Africa’s development challenges.”
Dr. Adom has published extensively in high-impact journals and collaborated on international research initiatives, including the Environment for Development (EfD) and the Sustainable Energy Transition Initiative (SETI). His research spans energy finance, renewable energy economics, climate policy, demand and supply modeling, and applied econometrics, with a strong focus on translating research into practical development solutions.
Prior to joining Ashesi, Dr. Adom served as Associate Professor of Economics at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and previously held senior academic roles at Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. His policy and consultancy work with organizations such as the African Development Bank, UNICEF, and IDRC has influenced thinking on energy transitions and sustainable economic growth.
