Richard Suu-Ire, Collaborator, Ghana

Richard qualified as a veterinary surgeon from the Kishinev Agricultural Institute, USSR. He obtained his MSc in Wild Animal Health from The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, U.K. and a Ph.D. from the University of Ghana. His has held jobs as Staff Wildlife Veterinarian of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission in charge of wildlife quarantine inspection and export health certifications, and was the first zoo veterinarian in Ghana, for both Accra and Kumasi zoos. He was also manager of Accra zoo, has been the head of the Ghana Wildlife Disease Surveillance Unit, and the wildlife epidemiologist to the Veterinary Services Department. Richard has extensive training and experience in epidemiology and disease surveillance for a range of infections, important for both public and animal health. He has over 15 years of research experience working in a Biosecurity Level 3 laboratories and collaborating with leading institutions (University of Cambridge, Institute of Zoology, CDC, etc.) focusing on zoonotic viruses of African bats. He is the OIE focal point for wildlife disease for Ghana, member of IUCN Wildlife Health Specialist group, and the USAID – Predict project Wildlife coordinator for Ghana. Richard is currently a Senior Lecturer, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghana.