First Ghanaian Veterinary Surgeon dies

The mortal remains of Emeritus Professor Reginald Kojo Gyapaning Assoku of the Department of Animal Science, University of Ghana, Legon were laid to rest at the Osu Cemetery at the weekend after a burial service at the Ridge Church in Accra.

Emeritus Professor Assoku, 64, was the first Ghanaian to obtain Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine and also the first Ghanaian Scientist to obtain a doctorate degree in Medical Immunology.

He was born at Cape Coast in April 1939 and attended the Government School at Akim-Oda from 1945 to 1952.

Between 1953 and 1959 he was a student at the Mfatsipim School.

Emeritus Prof. Assoku later grained admission into the University of Glasgow in Scotland in 1960 and obtained the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.

In June 1965, he proceeded to the University of Edinburgh for his postgraduate studies and in 1966 he was awarded a Ph.D. degree in Microbiology and Immunology.

Emeritus Professor Assoku worked briefly at the Departments of Bacteriology and Immunology at the University of Edinburgh Medical School and Veterinary Pathology & Microbiology of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

He returned to Ghana and joined the teaching staff of the University of Ghana in 1970 and worked with the Department of Animal Science. He became a Senior Lecturer in 1975, Associate Professor in 1978 and full Professor in October 1983 at the age of 44.

He was once Head of Department of Animal Science and the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Emeritus Professor Assoku retired in 1999 and was taken on contract to teach until his death. He died in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2003 where he had gone to seek medical attention.

He had to his credit 80 published scientific works and attended over 120 international and local conferences, symposia and workshops.

Emeritus Professor Assoku left behind a wife, three daughters and two grand children.