Okatakyi Dr. Amanfi VII is a Senior Fellow at Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD) and the Coordinator for Education for Sustainable Development in Africa (ESDA) at KNUST. He holds a Doctoral Degree in Development Studies from the University of Bradford, UK. Additionally, he holds post-graduate certificates in Planning and Appraisal of Industrial Investment from Development and Projects Planning Centre, University of Bradford, UK, and Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Capacity Building for Research and Development (Value Chain), ICRA, the Netherlands.

His research area includes Sustainable Development, Chieftaincy, Land Use Management, Natural Resource Management and Small-scale Industry Development. Okatakyi DR Amanfi VII was enstooled the Omanhen of Asebu Traditional Area in 2000. In 2008 he was elected the Vice President of Central Region House of Chiefs, a position he held for 8 years.

He has been a member of National House of Chiefs since 2004 and serves on a number of committees at both Houses. Okatakyi was recently appointed a Governing Board Member of Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM) and a Commissioner of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) as the Representative of Central Region.