Chemistry textbooks for schools

November 5, 2007
page 11
Story: Emmanuel Bonney


A Ghanaian author, Dr George Narh Doku, has written six volumes of Chemistry textbooks for senior high schools and other institutions of higher learning .
The volume one is General Principles of Chemistry; volume two, Basic Physics Chemistry; volume three, Basic Inorganic, Nuclear and Industry Chemistry; volume four, Basic Organic Chemistry; volume five, Questions and Solutions in Basic Chemistry and volume six, Laboratory Demonstration and Examination Practicals in Chemistry.
The books, which would be launched tomorrow,Thursday, represent the first separate detailed books for the different sections of basic chemistry, based on the teaching syllabi of the education sectors of the West African sub-region and the examination syllabus of the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
The books, which are printed by Digi Books Ghana Limited, are written in four main perspectives. The language is simple, and calculations explained well, thereby making the books self-explanatory and interesting to read.
They lay a solid foundation for students aspiring to continue to university to study science, medicine, biochemistry, pharmacy, agriculture, laboratory technology and engineering, among other programmes.
The textbooks have been written with precision and are based on experience in teaching and examining senior high schools, Advanced Level and university Chemistry students.
According to the author, he had a “vision to contribute strongly to the expansion of learning frontiers in chemistry, not only in terms of research at the highest level but also to make beginner scientists understand basic chemistry in real depth and be able to link the knowledge to the real world applications”.
Dr Doku obtained his first degree in chemistry and masters in analytical chemistry from the University of Cape Coast (UCC) under the supervision of Professor B.A. Dadson and Professor V.P.Y. Gadzekpo. Between 1992 and 95, he was a lecturer and a chemical consultant at the University of Capa Coast.
He was a renowned 'A' level Chemistry tutor and examiner for twelve years. He was the main brain behind the high 'A' level Chemistry performance at St. Augustine's College, Cape Coast and other institutions in Ghana.
He obtained his Doctorate degree (PhD) in microchemistry, with Commonwealth scholarship, from the University of Hull (UK) in 2000, under the supervision of Professor S. J. Haswell.
After a one year post-doc in the UK, he worked as a director of microchemistry projects with Professor Dr Ir. A. van den Berg of microtechnology at the MESA Research Institute in the Netherlands from 2001 to 2004.