Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor is an accomplished professional in the fields of Accounting and Finance with over 18 years of experience spanning academia and the financial sector. On Monday, May 6, 2024, the Governing Council of the University of Professional Studies, Accra, appointed Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor as the third Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra. His appointment takes effect on January 1, 2025. Prior to this appointment, Prof. Mawutor served as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) from January 2023 to date. As an Associate Professor, his expertise encompasses public and private governance, accountancy, and finance, further enriched by his involvement in various university statutory committees.
Academic Leadership and Contributions
Prof. Mawutor previously served as Dean of Graduate Studies at UPSA (2016-2022), where he significantly expanded graduate programmes from nine (9) to Twenty-one (21) and contributed over Ninety-two (92) million Ghana cedis in Internally Generated Funds (IGF), representing twenty (22%) of the University's total IGF during his tenure. He also served as a graduate programme coordinator at the School of Graduate Studies from 2012-2016, a Hall tutor (Opoku Ampomah Hall) from 2008-2016, a member of the UPSA Governing Council from 2014 till date, and several statutory and ad-hoc committees of the University. He has facilitated the formulation of strategic policies in accounting, internal control, and remuneration, bolstering UPSA’s academic and financial framework.
Research and Professional Affiliations
Prof. Mawutor's current research focus is on capital flight in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa, reflecting his commitment to addressing pressing economic issues. As a passionate anti-corruption advocate, he holds membership with the Institute of Fraud Examiners (USA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG). He is a prolific researcher with publications in respected journals ranked by the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) and Scopus and has presented papers at numerous conferences and seminars.
Academic Journey and Teaching
Joining the Institute of Professional Studies (now UPSA) in 2006, Prof. Mawutor has taught a wide array of courses, including financial/corporate reporting, management accounting, fraud examination, and corporate governance. His teaching spans undergraduate, graduate, and professional certification levels, earning him recognition as a dedicated educator.
Governance and Corporate Experience
Beyond academia, Prof. Mawutor has held several governance roles. He served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at Abokobi Area Rural Bank, a board member of the Coastal Development Authority, Chairman-District Financial Chairman (Church of Pentecost-KLM District), Treasurer of Consumer Advocacy Center, and a trustee of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund). Currently, he is a member of the Church of Pentecost Media Board and has also actively contributed to policy and financial oversight in both corporate and ecclesiastical settings.
Academic and Professional Credentials
Prof. Mawutor earned a Doctorate in Finance from SMC University (Switzerland), a Master's degree from Wisconsin International University College (Ghana), and professional certification from ICAG. Additional qualifications include a Postgraduate Diploma in Management of Higher Institutions (Galilee Management Institute, Israel), a Diploma in Higher Education (Zhejiang University, China), and certification as a Quantitative Risk Manager (CQRM, UK).
Media and Public Engagement
A regular media contributor, Prof. Mawutor discusses finance and accounting on various TV and radio platforms, including GBC, TV3, Pan African TV, Kesben TV, GHOne TV and several radio stations. He has also authored a book and writes for Ghana’s Daily Graphic on financial issues.
Personal Life
Prof. Mawutor is an Elder of the Church of Pentecost (Kokomlemle District) and is married to Deaconess Dr. Thelma Frimpong-Mensah, a professional with Deloitte Ghana, and together, they have four children: Eyram, Lom, Kafui, and Mawuena. His hobbies include listening to gospel music, staying updated on global financial news, watching football, and playing lawn tennis. A devoted fan of Accra Hearts of Oak Football Club, Prof. Mawutor blends his professional rigor with personal passions.