De-Graft Johnson Dei

Prof. De-Graft Johnson Dei is an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon. His research focuses on knowledge management, African Indigenous Knowledge Systems, digital transformation, and library and information science, with particular emphasis on preserving and managing indigenous knowledge to support innovation and sustainable development in Africa. His work examines the role of information systems, digital technologies, academic libraries, and open access in strengthening higher education, advancing research capacity, and promoting inclusive knowledge sharing. He has published widely on indigenous knowledge management, digital scholarship, e-learning, and information management, and has collaborated with researchers and institutions internationally. Beyond research and teaching, he contributes to postgraduate supervision, academic leadership, and the development of library and information services across Ghana. He holds a Ph.D. in Information Science from the University of South Africa, Pretoria, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, focusing on knowledge management and indigenous knowledge.

My research explores how information, knowledge systems, and digital technologies can strengthen higher education, research, governance, and sustainable development across Africa. Drawing on Library and Information Science, knowledge management, and digital transformation, I investigate how knowledge infrastructures and digital innovations can enhance institutional capacity, inform policy, and promote inclusive development. My work adopts an interdisciplinary perspective that integrates information science with broader social, educational, and development challenges, deepening understanding of how knowledge systems shape Africa's development trajectory. These scholarly interests closely align with the mission of the Kansas African Studies Center (KASC), whose commitment to interdisciplinary research and collaborative engagement provides an ideal environment for advancing this work. Through this research, I contribute to African Studies by examining the role of knowledge systems, information infrastructures, and digital transformation in strengthening higher education, governance, cultural heritage preservation, and sustainable development across diverse African contexts.

My research focuses extensively on academic libraries and digital scholarship in Africa. I examine issues related to institutional repositories, electronic resource use, digital libraries, scholarly communication, open access, research data management, and information access. My work investigates how African universities can strengthen research visibility, improve knowledge dissemination, and support teaching and learning through innovative information services and digital infrastructure. These studies contribute to ongoing discussions about higher education transformation and research capacity development across the continent.

Beyond this, I investigate knowledge management and organisational performance in public and higher education institutions, examining how organisational knowledge, digital technologies, and information systems enhance institutional effectiveness, innovation, and evidence-informed decision-making. This work reflects my broader interest in understanding how African institutions can build resilient knowledge ecosystems that support sustainable development.

Another important dimension of my scholarship focuses on indigenous knowledge systems and digital inclusion. I am particularly interested in documenting, preserving, and promoting indigenous knowledge using context-appropriate digital technologies while ensuring that local communities retain ownership and control of their cultural heritage. More recently, my research has expanded to examine digital inclusion, health equity, and the role of information in improving the well-being of women and marginalised communities in Africa. These themes underscore that equitable access to information is fundamental to social inclusion and sustainable development.

Through the KASC Virtual Affiliates initiative, I look forward to collaborating with KU scholars whose work intersects with African knowledge systems, digital scholarship, higher education, and interdisciplinary African Studies. Such collaborations would provide opportunities for joint publications, research seminars, grant development, and scholarly exchange. Access to the University of Kansas Libraries' extensive digital collections would further strengthen my ongoing research, postgraduate supervision, curriculum development, and collaborative publications.