Ashesi University is pleased to welcome Dr. Yaw Bediako as the Dean of Research and Innovation. In this role, he will provide strategic leadership to advance our research initiatives, foster innovation across various academic disciplines, and strengthen partnerships that support Ashesi’s mission.
The Dean of Research and Innovation role highlights Ashesi’s commitment to deepening research efforts and developing impactful solutions for Africa and beyond. Under Dr. Bediako’s leadership, we aim to expand opportunities for faculty and student research, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and launch initiatives that translate knowledge into practical outcomes.
Dr. Bediako is an immunologist and biotech entrepreneur. He holds a PhD from Northwestern University (Chicago, IL) and completed post-doctoral fellowships in Kenya and the United Kingdom. In 2020, he founded Yemaachi Biotech with the goal of increasing the representation of African data in oncology drug discovery. He is a 2021 Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellow (Gates Foundation), a fellow of the Ghana Young Academy, and an affiliate member of the African Academy of Sciences. His recent recognitions include being named one of the top 40 under 40 business people in Ghana (2022), one of the 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine (January 2023), and a Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst for 2025. Additionally, Jeune Afrique magazine recognized Dr. Bediako and Yemaachi Biotech as one of the 20 Future Champions in African Tech in March 2025.
Dr. Bediako is committed to developing a sustainable R&D ecosystem across Africa, encompassing academic centers of excellence, private industry, and national and regional institutions, believing that biotechnology will play a crucial role in the continent’s economic transformation. He will serve as Dean of Research and Innovation at Ashesi simultaneously with his role as CEO of Yemaachi.
“I have been inspired by Ashesi’s story for many years, and I am very excited to join such a remarkable community of scholars and impact makers. I am committed to nurturing a culture where inquiry, imagination, and impact converge, empowering our scholars to shape new frontiers of knowledge for Africa and the world,” shared Dr. Bediako. “I view research as a core liberal arts discipline that has the potential to become a powerful generative engine that secures Ashesi’s long-term sustainability, expands our global influence, and empowers our community to chart bold pathways towards a more just, innovative, and resilient world.”
