Joana Ngninnong-me Guo

Joana commenced her doctoral journey at ISSER in January 2023. She holds an MSc in Regional and Urban Planning Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BSc in Development Planning from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. She previously worked with both local and international development organizations before enrolling unto the PhD programme at ISSER. Her research interests include gender and development, women's economic empowerment local governance and inclusive education.

Publications and Conferences

Journal Article:
Guo, J. N. (2019). Understanding the Mining-Local Governance Nexus – A Ghanaian Case Study, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Vol. 62, No. 8, 1420–1445, https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2018.1503160

Report:
Quartey, P., Casely-Hayford, L., Akwei, C., Adamba, C., Asante-Poku, N. A., Guo, J., Quaicoe, J., Conjoh, A. M. (2024). Teacher Capacity for Play-Based Learning in Ghana and Sierra Leone: Needs and Challenges of Early Childhood Education (ECE), Retrieved March 4, 2026 from https://www.gpekix.org/blog/teacher-capacity-play-based-learning-ghana-and-sierra-leone-needs-and-challenges-early

Policy Briefs:
Quartey, V., Guo, J., Quartey, P., Akwei, C. & Quaicoe, j. (2024). Advancing play-based learning through improved continuous professional development, Retrieved March 4, 2026 from https://isser.ug.edu.gh/publication/advancing-play-based-learning-through-improved-continuous-professional-development
Asante-Poku, N. A., Guo, J., Quartey, P., Casely-Hayford, L. and Quaicoe, J. (2024). Teacher beliefs, attitudes and practices in play-based teaching and learning in Ghana, Retrieved March 3, 2026 from https://isser.ug.edu.gh/publication/teacher-beliefs-attitudes-and-practices-play-based-teaching-and-learning-ghana
Asante-Poku, N.A., Adamba, C., Guo, J. and Akwei, C. (2024). The Impact of Play-Based Learning Pedagogy on Learners, Retrieved March 4, 2026 from https://isser.ug.edu.gh/publication/impact-play-based-learning-pedagogy-learners

Conference Presentation:
Guo, J. N. (2025) Women’s Economic Empowerment Interventions of Local Governments in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review, Evidence to Action (E2A) Conference, Accra, Ghana