David Kpakpoe Acquaye

After his studies abroad, Acquaye joined the West African Cocoa Research Institute at Tafo,^[8] as a Scientific Officer in the field of Soil Chemistry.^[10] There, he worked as a research officer until 1965 when he became a senior research officer. A year later, he gained employment at the University of Ghana, where he worked as a senior lecturer.^[6][9][11] In 1969, he was made the acting head of the Crop Science Department, and the dean of the Faculty of Agriculture in 1972.^{[12][13][14][15]} He was elevated to the status of an associate professor in 1974,^[16] and subsequently, professor in 1976.^[2][17][18]

Acquaye became a member of the International Soil Science Society in 1958, and served as the vice-president of the society from 1963 to 1964.^[17] He was president of the Soil Science Society of Ghana from 1966 to 1971 and a scientific editor of the Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science.^{[2][4][17][19]} A journal he had edited since 1971. He was made a member of the American Society of Agronomy in 1973, and elected fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1979.^{[2][17][20][21]}

In 1982, Acquaye became the first head of the Soil Science department which was carved out of the Crop Science Department of the University of Ghana.^[1] In 1986, he became dean of the faculty of agriculture at the university for a second occasion before handing over in 1990.^{[citation needed]}

Acquaye married Eugenia Na-Oyo Quartey-Papafio in 1961. Together, they had five sons.^[6] Acquaye's interests included football, playing table tennis, and reading.^[17]