James Kwesi Appiah (born 30 June 1960), also known as Akwasi Appiah, is a Ghanaian football coach and former player who played as a left back who is the head coach of Sudan national football team.

Appiah was born on 30 June 1960 in Kumasi. He attended Opoku Ware School (OWASS) for his secondary school education.

Appiah, a left back, played club football for Prestea Mine Stars between 1982 and 1983, before joining Asante Kotoko, playing for them between 1983 and 1993.

Appiah played for the Ghana national team between 1982 and 1992, appearing in two FIFA World Cup qualifying matches; he also captained the team. Appiah was part of the 1982 squad that won the 1982 African Cup of Nations.

Between 1992 and 1995 Appiah served as the assistant coach for his former club Asante Kotoko including deputizing under Malik Jabir. He was subsequently promoted to serve in the role of head coach from 1995 to 1996. He served as a coach as part of the technical team of Fred Osam-Duodu when he served as Head coach of the Ghana national team from 2000 to 2001.

He has received technical training from English clubs Manchester City, and Liverpool.

James Kwesi Appiah was Ghana's assistant coach between 2007 and 2012 serving under Claude Le Roy and Milovan Rajevac.

Appiah was coach of Ghana U23 as they won the 2011 All-Africa Games.