The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, remembers William Ablorh Osekre, a pioneer university photographer whose work laid the foundation for the University’s visual and institutional archives, on the anniversary of his birth.
William Ablorh Osekre was born on January 10, 1933, to Mr. J. J. L. Osekre of Teshie and Madam Emelia Yawa Mensah of Oko. He was the second of seven children. He was baptised in May 1933 at the Apenkwa Presbyterian Church.
He received his primary and middle school education at Anumle and Achimota, where his discipline, attentiveness and interest in practical skills became evident. From an early age, he developed a strong fascination with photography, a demanding craft at the time that required patience, technical precision and deep personal commitment.
This interest matured into a lifelong vocation. Osekre worked as a professional photographer in Ghana and abroad, including a period in the United Kingdom, where his skills were further refined.
After returning to Ghana, he worked briefly for the University of Ghana before joining the then University of Science and Technology, now KNUST.
Osekre formally joined KNUST in the late 1950s, where he was initially attached to the Department of Physics, providing photographic support for departmental activities, academic documentation and scientific work.
His role later expanded beyond the department, and he became the University Photographer, serving the entire institution.
Over the course of 39 years of service, he rose through the ranks to become a senior officer, earning the trust and respect of University management, faculty, staff and students.
During his tenure, Osekre became a constant and trusted presence across campus, documenting Congregations, matriculations, official ceremonies, institutional milestones, academic events, staff and student life, as well as significant personal and community occasions such as weddings, birthdays and funerals involving members of the University community.
Colleagues recall him as meticulous, dependable and deeply respectful of institutional protocol.
His photography was characterised by restraint rather than spectacle, prioritising clarity, order and historical value.
Working in an era long before digital photography and with limited technical resources, he nonetheless produced images that remain vital records of KNUST’s formative decades.
Osekre retired from KNUST in 1996, having earned a reputation for loyalty, humility and professionalism. After retirement, he continued to work privately for some time before relocating with his family to Accra.
Beyond his professional life, Osekre was a man of deep Christian faith. He was confirmed in 1977 by Rev. S. R. Ramsayer of the Presbyterian Church. He remained actively involved in church life, joining the Men’s Fellowship and serving wholeheartedly within the congregation.
In December 1984, he married Vivian Wellington, and together they raised four children. As a family man, he was devoted to morning prayers and family devotions, instilling discipline, faith and strong moral values in his household.
Today, William Ablorh Osekre’s legacy endures in KNUST’s photographic archives. His images are more than historical artefacts; they are enduring testimonies to a life of faithful service, professional dedication, and the indispensable role of behind-the-scenes contributors in preserving the University’s institutional memory.
Source: Emmanuel Kwasi Debrah
