Prof R.H. Kofi Darkwah was born in Asuom in Ghana’s Eastern region on March 17, 1939. He attended basic school in his hometown. He then pursued his O Levels and A Levels at Mfantsipim School, graduating in 1957 and 1959 respectively. In 1960, he went to the University of Ghana to study History at Honours level. After that, he got his PhD at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London.

Prof. Darkwah had a long and illustrious academic career. He taught at many universities, starting at the University of Ghana and later teaching at other institutions like the University of Botswana, University of Calabar and Boston University.

Ethiopia was the main focus of his research, and he published two books chronicling the history of the East African nation. His research for these projects included extensive archival work in London, Paris, and Rome. His books are: Menelik of Ethiopia published in 1972 and Shewa, Menelik, and the Ethiopian Empire, 1813-1889 published in 1975. Prof Darkwah had a long collaborative working relationship with legendary Ghanaian historian and politician Prof Albert Adu-Boahen. The two first met in October 1960, when Prof. Darkwah enrolled in the University of Ghana. Prof. Adu Boahen was then a lecturer at the Department of History. Towards the end of his Honours programme, Prof. Darkwah became Prof. Adu Boahen’s research assistant. After Prof. Darkwah’s completion of his graduate studies and subsequent return to the University of Ghana, the two became colleagues. In fact, Adu Boahen and Darkwah were President and Secretary of the Historical Society of Ghana at the same time. The two worked together to host international conferences on Ghanaian history in 1971 and 1975. They also organised domestic conferences for the Historical Society of Ghana.

Towards the end of his academic career in 2005, Prof. Darkwah became the founding Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Education, Winneba. In that capacity, he introduced new academic programmes and refocused old ones. He also recruited faculty members for the new Social Science faculty. The University has honoured him by creating the Prof. R.H. Kofi Darkwah prize for the best graduating student in History.