Emeritus Professor Reginald Ocansey 
Co-Investigator
Physical Education and Sport Studies, University of Ghana, Legon

Emeritus Professor Reginald Ocansey became Professor Emeritus after three decades of active service as teacher educator, behavior analyst and physical activity researcher.

He was the Director of Teacher Education in Physical Education at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA from 1986 to 1989 and the College at Brockport, State University of New York USA from 1989 to 2007.  After retirement in 2007, he worked as Rector at the Entrepreneurship Training Institute, Kokomlemle, Accra, Director at the School of Exercise Medicine, Sports and Wellness, Narh-Bita College, Tema, Head of Department of Physical Education and Sport Studies at the University of Ghana, and now an advocate and researcher in physical activity and healthy living.

Examples of Physical Activity Research

The following are some ongoing physical activity assessment, monitoring, and surveillance research activities.

  1. Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA). Report Card on Physical Activity among children and youth since 2014.
  2. Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA). Country Card on Physical Activity young adults and adults since 2015.
  3. Global Observatory for Physical Education (GoPE). Country Card on Physical Education in Schools. Maiden edition coming soon (2025).
  4. SUNRISE Early Years of Sleep Study and Physical Activity Behaviors (SUNRISE). Under his Co-Directorship, Ghana has completed the training phase (2023) and now getting ready for Phase One data collection (2024).

Other Research Activities

  1. Neighborhood Environment Walkability in Africa (NEWS-AFRICA Research).
  2. Physical activity mediates voice production, fear, anxiety, and depression
  3. Sports mediates entrepreneurial mindsets and life skills

Sample Policy Impacts

  1. Development of the Ghana Education Service: Physical Education and Sport Policy Implementation Guidelines.
  2. Development of the Physical Education, Sport, Music and Dance Curriculum for Ghana Universities and Colleges of Education.
  3. Development of the Ghana Basic Education and Senior High School Core and Elective curricula in physical education and health.