Edwin Jackson Anafi Asomaning

Edwin Jackson Anafi Asomaning (21 September 1930 – 13 May 2001) was a Ghanaian plant physiologist who served as the Director of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana from 1966 to 1979. He was a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences

Asomaning was born on the 21st of September, 1930 at Sra in Somanya to Charles Kwadwo Asomaning and Matilda Owiredua. His father, Charles Kwadwo Asomaning, when he was 11 years of age became Nana Frempong Manso II, Omanhene (Paramount chief) of theAkim Kotoku Traditional Area in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Asomaning started his primary school education at Sra Presbyterian Junior School and later moved to AkyemAwisa Presbyteraian Junior School. From 1942 to 1945 he attended Oda Government School where he passed the Middle School Leaving Examination with Distinction. Asomaning attended the Accra Academy for his secondary education from 1946 to 1950. Upon completion of his secondary education, heworked at the Audit Department and the Department of Education. During this time, he applied to continue his studies in the United States, and was granted a scholarship to attend Iowa State University in Ames in 1953, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in biology. After this he was admitted to Yale University where he completed a Masters and Ph.D degree in plant physiology.

Asomaning was still completing his studies when he was offered an appointment at the then West African Cocoa Research Institute (WACRI), now known as the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), which is located in Akim Tafo in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Before returning home to Ghana, to assume his position at WACRI, Asomaning completed post-doctoral work at Long Ashton Research Station in Bristol in the United Kingdom.

In 1980 he retired early from CRIG at the age of 50. That same year, he was offeredan appointment at Cocoa House in Accra as a Special Advisor, a position he held for year before withdrawing once more.

In later life, he served on the Ghana Cocoa Board, the Board of the Oil Palm Research Institute of Kusi of which he was Chairman and the Asua Pra Rural Bank of Afosu (only the 3rd rural bank in Ghana at the time).

He also served as the Ombudsman for the Ghana Oil Palm Development Corporation (GOPDC) outgrowers at Kwae in the Eastern Region. The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) government made him a member of the National Economic Committee which it set up.

In 1970, Asomaning was elected a fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.