Professor John Owusu Addo Receives Doctorate for Shaping Ghana’s Architectural Future

At 97 years old, Professor John Owusu Addo stands as a living icon of Ghanaian architecture and education—and his legacy just got even brighter. The renowned architect has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his lifelong contribution to Ghana’s built environment and architectural education

Born in 1928, during the era of the British Gold Coast, Professor Owusu Addo’s journey began with a scholarship to study Architecture at the Regent Street Polytechnic (now part of our university) in 1952. After qualifying in 1958, he returned home to an independent Ghana, ready to help shape a new nation through design.

Together with architect Kenneth Scott, he championed what became known as Tropical Modernism—a climate-conscious, culturally rooted architectural style that responded to Ghana’s unique needs. Their work pioneered sustainable design long before it became a global trend

By 1961, Professor Owusu Addo had already been invited to help transform the physical campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). His impact there was not just on buildings, but on minds. He became the first Ghanaian Head of the Architecture Department, rose to Dean in 1978, and then served as Pro-Vice Chancellor until 1982

Beyond Ghana, his influence spread across the Commonwealth and Africa. He chaired the Commonwealth Board of Architectural Education and led strategic efforts in architecture education for the Africa Union of Architects. His work earned him the Honorary Doctor of Science degree from KNUST in 2002, followed by the prestigious Order of the Volta in 2005, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ghana Institute of Architects in 2007

Earlier this year, his story reached new audiences through an immersive film showcased at the Victoria and Albert Museum’s 2024 exhibition, Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence. The exhibition highlighted how Tropical Modernism became a symbol of Ghana’s post-colonial identity—and Professor Owusu Addo was at the heart of it.

His work continues to inspire the next generation of architects not just in Ghana, but around the world. A true visionary.
A national treasure. A legacy that lives on.