Professor Oswald Atiga: Shaping the Future of Procurement and Supply Chain Education in Ghana

In Ghana’s higher education landscape, few scholars combine integrity, vision, and impact like Professor Oswald Atiga. A trailblazer in Procurement, Logistics, and Supply Chain education, his work has shaped minds, influenced policy, and raised professional standards nationwide and globally.

Born in Kogwania-Nayagnia, a suburb of Navrongo in the Upper East Region, Prof. Atiga’s journey reflects discipline, service, and purposeful leadership. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Head of the Department of Procurement and Logistics Management (PLM) at Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU), where he has spent over two decades transforming education and practice.

Education and Early Career

Prof. Atiga’s education began at Monsignor Abatey Memorial Preparatory Primary School (1981–1986), followed by Notre Dame Minor Seminary Secondary School (1987–1992) and Sunyani Secondary School for Sixth Form (1994–1996). Early teaching roles at St. John Bosco’s JSS and the Navrongo Health Research Centre honed his leadership and organisational skills.

He earned a Bachelor of Education (Arts) from the University of Cape Coast (1997–2000) and taught at St. Charles Minor Seminary Secondary School for his National Service before joining Bolgatanga Polytechnic (now BTU) in 2004. He later completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (2007–2008), an MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at KNUST (2008–2010), and a PhD in Logistics Management from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa (2022). His doctoral research, comparing public and private medical commodity supply chains in the Upper East, continues to influence institutional policy across Ghana.

Leadership and Institutional Impact

Over 20 years, Prof. Atiga has advanced from Instructor to Associate Professor and Head of Department, transforming BTU’s PLM unit into one of its most innovative and respected departments. He has served as chairman of TUTAG-BTU, a member of the Development Committee of the University Governing Council, and a University Council member from 2020 to 2024.

Colleagues praise him as a “results-oriented team player with a deep sense of fairness and duty.” Under his leadership, BTU’s Procurement and Logistics programmes at HND, Degree, and Master’s level are celebrated for their ethical focus, research rigor, and industry relevance. Students often remark that Prof. Atiga “teaches integrity as much as logistics.”

National Influence and Research Excellence

Prof. Atiga serves on the Regional Tender Review Committee of the Upper East Region and the Ghana Institute of Procurement and Supply (GIPS), promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainability in public procurement.

A prolific researcher, he has published extensively on sustainable procurement, supply chain practices, drone delivery of medical commodities, and public sector ethics. His 2024 book, Public Procurement in Ghana (Volume 1), along with his 2025 publications, continues to shape governance discourse and serve as key references for policymakers and students.

Mentorship, Ethics, and Legacy

In the classroom, Prof. Atiga blends global insights with local realities. Courses like Global Supply Chain Management and Managing Ethical Procurement equip students with both technical expertise and ethical grounding. Students praise him for instilling critical thinking and moral responsibility.

Grounded in humility, he believes true service uplifts others: “Every lecture, every administrative duty, every research project is about creating value for others.” From rural Navrongo to Johannesburg and back to BTU, Prof. Atiga exemplifies how discipline, education, and ethical leadership can transform institutions and lives.

Recognized by colleagues and students alike, Prof. Atiga has shaped a generation of principled, capable, and ethical leaders in Ghana’s evolving Procurement and Supply Chain sector. His journey stands as a testament to disciplined scholarship, transformative leadership, and unwavering integrity.

By Samuel Adadi

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