Ing. Dr. Deborah Darko is a Senior Research Scientist at Water Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. She holds a PhD in Water Resources Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), a Master’s degree in Environmental Resources Engineering from SUNY-ESF/ Syracuse University, United States of America and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from KNUST. Her research and development activities are in the areas of water resources planning and development; hydrological and lake modeling; climate change and adaptation studies; and ecosystem restoration and redevelopment.

She has been a key partner to research focused on adaptive and resilient water systems and lake-climate nexus modelling-related projects including Design and assessment of water-energy-food-environment mega-systems – funded by UK Research Council; Climate Change Effects on Lake Volta Resources – funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs/DANIDA; Rainwater Harvesting for Resilience to Climate Change Impact on Water Availability in Ghana – funded by the Nordic Fund; and Adaptive Management of Groundwater for Small Scale Irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa – funded by the National Environmental Research Council (NERC)/DFID.

Her research interest lies in exploring holistic approaches to water resources development, restoration and redevelopment through the use of modelling tools and interdisciplinary approach that combines fundamental science and engineering principles to address contemporary environmental problems. Her publications are on catchment-lake-climate nexus modeling, climate and sediment fluxes studies.

Awards and Recognitions
2014 – 2017: DANIDA Fellowship
2014, 2016: Netherlands Fellowship Programme Award
2013: Australian Award Scholarship – Africa fellowship
2011: MASHAV scholarship – Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State of Israel
2010: Academic, scholarship and leadership award (SUNY-ESF)

Research Interests
My research interest lies in exploring holistic approaches to water resources development, restoration and redevelopment through the use of modelling tools and interdisciplinary approach that combines fundamental science and engineering principles to address contemporary environmental problems.

Current Research
My research is in the area of applied hydrology, specifically in water resources planning and management; hydrological and lake modelling; climate change and adaptation studies and environmental remediation and restoration. I key partner to research focused on adaptive and resilient water systems and lake-climate nexus modelling-related projects including, Climate Change Effects on Lake Volta Resources – funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs/DANIDA; Design and Assessment of resilient and sustainable interventions in water-energy-food-environment Mega-Systems – funded by UK Research Councils; Rainwater Harvesting for Resilience to Climate Change Impact on Water Availability in Ghana – funded by the Nordic Fund; and Adaptive Management of Groundwater for Small Scale Irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa – funded by the National Environmental Research Council (NERC)/DFID

Current Projects
1. 2017 Design and Assessment of resilient and sustainable interventions in water-energy-food-environment Mega-Systems (FutureDAMS) [2017-2022].
2. 2013 Climate Change Impacts on Lake Volta Fishery Resources (VOLTRES), [2014-2018].
3. 2013 Water Infrastructure Solutions from Ecosystem Services Underpinning Climate Resilient Policies and Programmes (WISE-UP to Climate), [2013-2017].
4. 2013 Rainwater Harvesting for Resilience to Climate Change Impact on Water Availability in Ghana, [2013-2015].
5. 2013 Adaptive Management of Groundwater for Small Scale Irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa (AMGRAF), [2013-2014].
6. 2013 Restoration and Renaturation of Fosu Lagoon, [2013].
7. 2009 Groundwater in sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for food security and livelihoods (GSSA), [2009-2012].

Publications
Journal Papers

1. Odinakachukwu, C. E., Adjei, K. A., Andam-Akorful, S. A., Gyamfi, C., Darko, D., Odai, S. N. (2024). Evaluation of near-real-time satellite rainfall estimates for extreme precipitation analysis over the Volta Basin, West Africa. Submitted to Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (accepted).

2. Darko, D., Zhu, D., Quayson, M., Hossin, M.A., Omoruyi, O. and Bediako, A.K. (2023). A multicriteria decision framework for governance of PPP projects towards sustainable development. Socio- Economic Planning Sciences, p.101580.

3. Echeta, O.C., Adjei, K.A., Andam -Akorful, S.A., Gyamfi, C., Darko, D., Ayock, I.J., Odai, S.N. (2023) Machine learning -based technique for predicting improved short -latency rainfall estimates in data -scare regions. Submitted to Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies (under review)

4. Oulu, M., Darko, D., Osaliya, R., Aziz, F. and Wekesa, D. (2023). Governing the nexus: Water-energy-food nexus governance strategies in Ghana and Uganda. Environmental Development, 48(4): 100933. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2023.100933

5. Gebrechorkos, S.H., Pan, M., Lin, P., Anghileri, D., Forsythe, N., Pritchard, D.M.W., Fowler, H.J., Obuobie, E., Darko, D. and Sheffield, J. (2022). Variability and changes in hydrological drought in the Volta Basin, West A frica. Journal of Hydrology : Regional Studies 42, 101143, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2022.101143.

6. Kuriakose, J., Anderson, K., Darko, D., Obuobie, E., Larkin, A. and Addo, S. (2022). Implications of large hydro da ms for decarbonising Ghana’s energy consistent with Paris climate objectives. Energy for Sustainable Development 71 (2022) 433 –446, doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2022.10.011.

7. Odinakachukwu C. E., Adjei, K.A, Andam-Akorful, S.A., GyamfI, C., Darko, D., Odai, S.N., and Kwarteng, E.V.S (2022). Environmental Processes 9:59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-022-00613-8

8. Darko, D., Adjei, K.A., Odai, S.N., Obuobie, E, Asmah, R. and Trolle, D. (2019). Recent climate trends for the Volta Basin in West Africa. Weather, 74, S1, ppS13 -S22, Royal Meteorological Society, doi:10.1002/wea.3303

9. Darko, D.; Adjei, K. A.; Appiah -Adjei, E. K.; Odai, S. N.; Obuobie, E and Asmah, R. (2019) Simulation of climate characteristics and extremes of the Volta Basin using CCLM and RCA regional climate models. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 134 (1-2), pp. 741-763. https://doi. org/10.1007/s00704-018-2485-6
10. Darko, D., Trolle, D., Asmah, R., Bolding, K., Adjei., K.A., Odai, S.N. (2019). Modeling the impacts of climate change on the thermal and oxygen dynamics of Lake Volta. Journal of Great Lakes Research 45, pp. 73-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2018.11.010
11. Darko, D., Adjei, K.A., Odai, S.N., Obuobie, E, Asmah, R. and Trolle, D. (2018). Climate trends over a recent climatological period for the Volta Basin in West Africa. Weather, 99(99), pp1-10.
12. Darko, D., Adjei, K.A., Appiah-Adjei, E.K., Odai, S.N., Obuobie, E and Asmah, R. (2018). Simulation of climate characteristics and extremes of the Volta Basin using CCLM and RCA regional climate models. Theoretical and Applied Climatology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-018-2485-6
13. Ofori, D., Amisigo, B.A., Logah, F.Y. and Kankam-Yeboah, K (2016). Suspended sediment transport into a water supply reservoir in southern Ghana. Ghana Journal of Science, 56, pp 3-14.
14. Ofori, D., Kankam-Yeboah, K and Logah, F.Y. (2015). Climate change and river basin-level management of water resources in Ghana. Journal of the Ghana Science Association, 16(1), pp 93-108.
15. Logah, F.Y., Kankam-Yeboah, Ofori, D. and Gyau-Boakye, P. (2014) Flood Pulse Alterations of Some River Basins in Ghana, Ghana Journal of Science, Vol.54, pp 19-32.
16. Obuobie, E., Ofori, D., Agodzo, S., and Okra, C. (2013). Groundwater potential for dry-season irrigation in north-eastern Ghana. Water International (2013), pp 1-16.
17. Kankam-Yeboah, K., Okrah, C., Agyekum, W.A., Duah, A. A., Ofori, D. and Logah, F. (2013). Water Resources Management of Shared Transboundary Aquifer Systems – The Case of the Keta Basin, Ghana Journal of Science, Vol.53, pp 39 – 51.
18. Kankam-Yeboah, K., Logah, F., Amisigo, B., Bekoe, E.O. Ofori, D. and Akudago, J. A. (2013). Low Flow Analysis of the Black Volta River at Lawra in Ghana, Journal of Environmental Hydrology, Vol. 21, Paper 2, pp 1-16.
19. Logah, F.Y., Obuobie, E., Ofori, D. and Kankam-Yeboah, K. (2013). Analysis of Rainfall Variability in Ghana, International Journal of Latest Research in Engineering and Computing, Vol. 1, Issue 1, pp 1-8.
20. Obuobie, E., Kankam-Yeboah, K., Amisigo, B., Opoku-Ankomah, Y. and Ofori, D. (2012). Assessment of Vulnerability of River Basins in Ghana to Water Stress Conditions under Climate Change, Journal of Water and Climate, 03.4, pp 276-286.
21. Kwabena B. Nyarko, Esi Awuah, Deborah Ofori (2008). Local Initiative in Community Water Supply: Case Study in Ashanti Region, Ghana. Water and Sanitation in International Development and Disaster Relief Workshop, Edinburgh, United Kingdom 28-30 May 2008. Desalination 252 (2010) 233–240.

Conference Papers

1. Asmah, R.; Dankwa, H. R.; Obuobie, E.; Darko, D.; Mensah, E. T. D; Andersen, H. E.; Trolle, D.; Lauridsen, T. and Bolding, K. (2019) Effects of climate change on Volta Lake resources. Paper presented at the Pan African C hemistry Congress 2019: Riches of the Natural World: sustainable use of Africa’s natural products and materials (PACN2019), 5th – 7th November 2019, Ethiopia

Technical Reports

1. Amisigo, B., Obuobie, E., Darko, D., and Agyekum, W. (2020). A technical review of Ahafo North Project water documents. A consultancy report, 69p.

2. Obuobie, E., Osei-Owusu, M., and Darko, D. (2020). Overview of existing national flood event databases in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria. A technical Report of the MiFFMASS Project, 42p.

3. Skinner, J., Obuobie, E., Darko, D., and Hulme, D. (2020). Social dimensions of Pwalugu Dam (Ghana): Documentation review. A technical report of the FutureDAMS project, 13p.

4. Darko, D.; Kpessa -Whyte, M.; Obuobie, E.; Siakwah, P.; Torto, O. and Tsikata, D. (2019) The context and pol itics of decision making on large dams in Ghana: An overview. FutureDAMS Working Paper 002 . Manchester: The University of Manchester.

Consultancy Reports

1. Logah, F. Y., Darko, D., Appiah, G., Gaisie-Essilfie, F. A., Granaham, P., Obuobie, E. (2024). Sahel Value Chain Dam Development Project: Preliminary Study Report. 34p.

2. Logah, F. Y., Darko, D., Appiah, G., Obuobie, E., Osei-Owusu, M. (2024). Hydrometric Assessment, in Environmental Studies on Biodiversity and Wetland in the DSTF Area. AngloGold Ghana Limited. 42p.

3. Obuobie, E., Boadi, S. A., Logah, F., Darko, D., Osei-Owusu, M., Odametey, S., Gaisie-Essilfie, F. A., Agyekum, J., Bazaanah , P., Oblim, F., Appiah, G., Granaham, P. and Duban, M. (2023). Use of SWAT to model Water Flow Regulation and Sediment Retention in the Pra and Volta Basins, a consultancy report for the World Bank. Pp 146.

4. Obuobie, E., Amisigo, B., Darko, D., Boadi, S., Appiah, G., Agyekum, J., Asante, K.A. Oblim, F., Mantey, V. and Bazaanah, P. (2022). Dangote Sugar Project – Baseline Hydrological Study, Consultancy Report, DANGOTE Project, pp183.

5. Obuobie, E., Osei -Owusu, M. , and Darko, D. (2020). Overview of existing national flood event databases in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria. A technical Report of the MiFFMASS Project, 42p.
6. Amisigo, B., Obuobie, E., Darko, D., and Agyekum, W. (2020). A technical review of Ahafo North Project water documents. A consultancy report, 69p.

Posters

1. Kuriakose, J., Anderson, K., Darko, D., Obuobie, E. (2021). Implications of hydro dams for decarbonising Ghana’s energy consistent with Paris climate objectives. A poster presented at Climate Exp0 – the COP26 Universities Network virtual conference, 17-21 May 2021.

View a list of current publications
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00704-018-2485-6
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0380133018302211
https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/wea.3303