Profile of Richard Otieku-Boadu
Richard Otieku-Boadu is a seasoned information technology professional specializing in network administration, digital infrastructure and ICT management within higher-education environments. He currently serves as Head IT Administrator for the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, where he provides strategic and operational leadership for the college’s information and communications technology services across multiple campuses.
Role and responsibilities
Richard combines technical oversight with strategic planning to ensure reliable, secure and fit-for-purpose ICT services for teaching, research and administration. His core responsibilities include:
- Strategic planning and day-to-day management of campus network infrastructure (LAN/WAN), wireless services and internet connectivity.
- Oversight of servers, virtualisation, web hosting, email systems and centralized services that support academic and administrative workflows.
- Cybersecurity leadership: developing and enforcing best practices for access control, patch management, intrusion detection and data backup/disaster recovery planning.
- ICT service management and user support: defining service levels, tracking incidents, and coordinating technical support for staff, faculty and students.
- Procurement, vendor evaluation and contract management for ICT hardware, software and services, ensuring value and technical compliance.
- Capacity building through structured training and workshops for non-technical and technical users to increase digital literacy and effective use of campus systems.
- Advising college leadership and departmental stakeholders on technology adoption, policy, and alignment of ICT investments with institutional objectives.
Education & professional qualifications
Richard holds an M.Sc. in Information Technology from Sikkim Manipal University and completed a Network and Information Security programme at the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (Ghana). His professional certifications include:
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- ITIL Foundation (IT service management)
These qualifications underpin his practical experience in network design, secure systems administration and service delivery.
Selected contributions and impact
Richard has led and coordinated several digital initiatives focused on strengthening the college’s technical foundation and improving user experience. Highlights of his contributions include:
- Leading multi-campus efforts to stabilise and scale connectivity and core services to support remote learning and hybrid teaching models.
- Implementing centralized administration and monitoring tools to improve system availability and reduce incident response times.
- Establishing ICT onboarding and continuous training programmes for academic and administrative staff that improve productivity and adoption of digital tools.
- Advising on procurement and technical specifications to ensure resilient, cost-effective ICT investments that align with institutional policies.
Research interests
Richard’s professional practice is complemented by applied research interests that inform his work and institutional advice:
- Network security — assessing vulnerabilities in educational networks and developing practical strategies to protect user data, preserve privacy and maintain uptime.
- Scalable IT systems — designing flexible, modular infrastructure models that allow institutions to expand services without compromising performance or manageability.
- Digital solutions in education — evaluating how e-learning platforms, digital content and learning management systems affect teaching quality, assessment integrity and student outcomes.
- ICT for public health — exploring how interoperable information systems and digital workflows can strengthen health information management, surveillance and decision support in public health settings.
Each interest area is pursued with an emphasis on practical, evidence-based solutions that can be adopted by resource-constrained institutions.
Service, collaboration & professional engagement
Richard regularly collaborates with academic departments, administrative units and external vendors to align ICT delivery with pedagogical and research needs. He contributes to internal committees and technical working groups, provides input to policy development, and supports grant-linked technology proposals by advising on technical feasibility and resource requirements. Richard also mentors junior IT staff and engages in peer learning through workshops and institutional training sessions.
Personal
Outside of work Richard enjoys travelling, exchanging ideas with colleagues and keeping up with developments in technology and digital pedagogy. He is an avid listener of music and is committed to lifelong learning and professional development, continually seeking ways to apply emerging technologies in ways that support teaching, research and public health outcomes.