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Professor Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua has been appointed as the first Vice Chancellor of Accra-based Pentecost University (PU), which has received a Presidential Charter to run as a fully-fledged university.

Prof. Agyapong-Kodua, 40, a Pastor of The Church of Pentecost, proud owners of the University, replaces Apostle Dr Daniel Okyere Walker, the current Rector who has been transferred to head the Church in Tarkwa in the Western Region.

The UK-based academic is an associate professor of Digital Systems Engineering & Management at Warwick University in the UK. He had earlier taught and supervised student projects at Leicester College, South Leicestershire College, Loughborough University and the University of Nottingham, where he rose to become a Senior Research Fellow.  

Graduating from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) with a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2000, he worked as a Design Engineer with GRATIS Foundation and later moved on to join Nestle Ghana Limited as an Engineer, heading one of their departments responsible for ERP (MPCS, by then) systems, preventive maintenance, stock control and management.

He ventured into academia in 2005 and obtained his Masters in Advanced Manufacturing Systems Engineering and Management, and a PhD in Complex Systems Modelling from the Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the Loughborough University in the UK. He is a Chartered Engineer from the Royal Institute of Engineering and Technology, UK, and a Member of the Engineering Professors Council, UK. In addition to his Science and Engineering qualifications, he holds a Masters in Practical Theology obtained from Mattersey College, UK; Prince 2 qualification in Project Management and professional certificates in Teaching and Learning.

After his PhD, he was appointed by the University of Nottingham as a Research Fellow at the University’s Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, where he led a number of large-scale European and EPSRC scientific and technological projects. He is noted for his unique contribution towards the development of novel techniques for systems integration and reconfigurability, an area he later at the University of Warwick, together with his colleagues, obtained three records of invention, whilst leading a team of academics.

Prof Agyapong-Kodua has since 2008 been teaching and leading collaborative international research projects in areas of large-scale systems re-engineering; artificial intelligence and complex systems prediction, improvement and optimisation; advanced manufacturing technologies and automation. His other works include consultancies in this domain for world-leading companies such as Shenling Co. Ltd, Guangzou, China; Artform International, UK; Jaguar Land Rover Ltd, UK; and Airbus-UK. Prof Agyapong-Kodua serves as a Board member of the Birmingham Christian College and Regents Theological College, both in the UK. He has pioneered institutional research and teaching collaborations with some leading Universities in his field. This includes the University of Windsor, Canada; Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary; University of Naples Federico II, Italy; Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation, University of Stuggart, Germany; and the AMRC, University of Sheffield, UK.

He has also written seven books (three on Engineering Systems & management; three on the interface between science and theology; and one on tertiary education); contributed to three book chapters, and published over 40 papers in leading international journals and conference proceedings.

In Christian ministry, Prof. Agyapong-Kodua was a National Executive Member (2013-2015) of the Church of Pentecost-UK; Chairman of the National Literature Committee, UK; pastored within the London North and Milton Keynes Areas of the church and was the District Minister for SALEM PIWC, UK. He was also the National Youth Leader (2017-2019) in the UK. Prof. Agyapong-Kodua is married to Vida.

The historic 44th Session of the General Council Meetings of The Church of Pentecost, which was held virtually, came to an end on June 6, 2020 after five days of successful deliberations and elections.

The event, which was under the theme, “A Glorious Church To Possess The Nations” (Ephesians 3:21, Ephesians 5:27), took an unconventional turn as more than a thousand Councilors (ministers and lay leaders) from across the globe had to participate in the virtual meetings via Zoom.

Delivering his closing address, the Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye reiterated that, the decision to hold the meetings electronically was necessitated by restrictions placed on public gatherings and the closure of national borders by various governments around the world in efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Considering that this was the first-ever attempt of the church to organise the Council meetings virtually, Apostle Nyamekye took the opportunity to celebrate the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord for helping the church to chalk another important milestone.

He was particularly buoyant about the successful election of new Executive Council Members which was also conducted electronically for the first time, saying “To the glory of God, the elections were held smoothly and in record time; thanks to the hardworking team of experts who worked round the clock to ensure such a sound process.”

The Chairman, on behalf of the Executive Council (EC), acknowledged the meritorious services of the outgone Executive Council Members, as well as, the reviewed Ministry Directors, while congratulating the newly elected EC Members and Directors on their appointments.

Apostle Nyamekye advised that, as the COVID-19 pandemic persists, Church leaders should continue to take advantage of technology to reach the millions of unreached people. He urged them to continue to encourage members to strengthen family devotional life and to take small groups and cell meetings seriously; as these are the interventions that have kept church functioning during this period.

The Chairman concluded his address by charging ministers to continue to pursue the church’s vision of possessing the nations despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We should not allow COVID-19 to blur our vision and distract us in our quest to possess the nations for the Lord. We need to build a glorious church which is truly united globally! We need to build a glorious church that patterns its life after Jesus, the Master! We need to build a glorious church that does the will of God so to continually keep His glory!” he said.

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has commended The Church of Pentecost for making available the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) as an isolation and treatment centre for COVID-19 patients.

In a speech delivered during the Virtual May Day (Workers’ Day) celebration on May 1^st, 2020, the President said: “The nation is profoundly grateful to The Church of Pentecost for the generous, Christian gesture of making available its multipurpose Convention Centre at Gomoa Fetteh, as an isolation centre which can house over one thousand (1,000) persons and three hundred (300) medical staff.”

Following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on April 23^rd, 2020, between the Church and the Government of Ghana, the multi-purpose convention facility was released to the Government to be used as an isolation and treatment centre for persons infected with the viral disease.

The move was part of the Church’s efforts in assisting the government to contain, curb the spread and eradicate the Coronavirus pandemic as well as promote the recovery of persons who test positive for the disease.

Pentecost University College (PUC) has received a Presidential Charter making it a full-fledged University that will award its own degrees, rather than through an affiliate University as required of all private universities without a charter.

The President of the Republic of Ghana, H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presented the Charter Certificate to the University on May 28, 2020, at a brief presentation ceremony at the Jubilee House – the seat of Government.

In his address, President Akufo-Addo commended Pentecost University for the hard work they have done over the years to merit the status of an independent institution of higher learning. He indicated that Pentecost University has met the stringent requirements under Regulation 20, Clause 2, of the Tertiary Institutions Regulations, 2010, LI 1984.

He, however, admonished the institution not to rest on its oars, but to justify its new status as a Chartered University by maintaining the standards that have elevated it to a full-fledged tertiary institution.

The Rector of Pentecost University, Apostle Dr Daniel Okyere Walker, who received the charter certificate on behalf of the University, thanked the Lord for His faithfulness towards the university and The Church of Pentecost. He also thanked the President, the Minister of Education – Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the National Accreditation Board and all who made that feat possible.

He also acknowledged the Chancellor of the University and Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, under whose leadership the University has chalked such a momentous milestone.

The Rector also dedicated the success to all past Chairmen of the Church, past rectors, as well as past and present staff and students of the University whose contributions have helped to propel the University to such a commendable height. He assured the President that, Pentecost University would continue to pursue excellence, saying, “The vision of Pentecost University is to become the number one faith-based university in Africa that will develop transformational leaders for Ghana, Africa and the world at large.”

Among those present to witness the historic event were the immediate past Chairman of the church and first Rector of the University, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyiah (Rtd.), and Apostle Prof. Peter Ohene Kyei (Rtd.), immediate past Rector of the University.