Richard Appiah obtained his Ph.D. in health sciences with positive psychology from the North-West University, and an M.Phil. in clinical psychology from the University of Ghana. He is currently a faculty member and researcher in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Ghana. Dr Appiah was the lead implementer (mental health arm) on the Escaping Poverty (EP) project, collaborating with the Innovations for Poverty Action and Heifer Ghana, where he co-developed mental health and strengths-based intervention modules and led the implementation of the EP and related projects in 165 rural communities across four regions of Ghana. He also practised as a clinical psychologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra for three years. Dr Appiah’s publications have critically reflected on the informed consent process, and the theoretical, sociocultural, and methodological issues that constrain the design, uptake, and effectiveness of positive psychology interventions in the more collectivistic context of sub-Saharan Africa. His recent work translated and validated the Twi versions of six mental health and well-being measures, and developed and evaluated a 10-session, two-hourly, once-weekly group-based multicomponent positive psychology intervention program (the Inspired Life Program), designed to promote mental health, build resilience, and increase vocational productivity of rural poor adults in Ghana. Dr Appiah is currently completing his postdoctoral fellowship in the Center for African Studies at Harvard University.