Mr. Ayensu, a Ghanaian national, was appointed to the Inspection Panel in 1998, and served as Chair from 2002 to 2003.

Mr. Ayensu has held a number of high-level positions in various international scientific organizations, including Director and Senior Scientist at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. He is President of the Pan-African Union for Science and Technology; Chairman of Edward S. Ayensu Associates Ltd.; founding Chairman of the African Biosciences Network, among many. He was Senior Advisor to the President of the African Development Bank.

Professor Ayensu is a fellow of various academies of arts and sciences. He was a Visiting Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford University, and is a Distinguished Professor of the University of Ghana. He has published many books and articles on science, technology and social and economic development of developing countries. He twice received the Ghana National Science Award, and was celebrated as the recipient of the Outstanding Statesman Award in Ghana. He holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of London.