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History of OWSD Ghana Chapter

Professors Aba B. Andam, Esi Awuah, Margaret Frempong, Ewurama Addy (of blessed memory) and Dr. Neequaye Tetteh from the conference of Third World Organization of Women in Science (TWOWS), in Trieste, Italy. After their return, they formed a club called Women in Science and Technology (WIST) in 1988. Prof. Ewurama Addy of blessed memory was the first President of the club.

Several meetings were held by the female lecturers and Science teachers at Technology Secondary now KNUST Senior High School. The core mandate of the club members was to assist the Girls’ Science and Mathematics Clinics and serve as role models. The activities soon died down with members dealing directly with the headquarters in Trieste.

In 2010 at a meeting in Beijing, the name TWOWS was changed into the Organization of Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD). Prof. (Mrs.) Esi Awuah from Ghana was appointed a member of the Executive Board for the Africa Region. Members were reached via email to revive the chapter.

In October, 2013, Ghana hosted the second Africa Regional Conference on Climate Change at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UNER)in Sunyani, Ghana. Since one of the aims of the Ghana Chapter is to integrate OWSD in the Senior High Schools and to encourage young ladies to take up programmes in the sciences, on the 3rd of November 2015, a maiden female scientist career advancing summit was also held at the UNER in Sunyani, Ghana. The summit was well-attended by female senior high school students from different Schools in the Brong Ahafo Region, female science students from different universities, female science and mathematics tutors, female university lecturers in various science fields across the country and female researchers from various research institutes. The aim of the summit was to help female scientists and students build their capacities and network for National Development. At the conference issues discussed varied from: Impacting my community as a female scientist, progressing on my academic life, scholarship opportunities for female scientists, enhancing the career pathway of female scientist through mentoring and coaching, building the leadership and management skills of female scientists and unleashing the potentials of female scientists. At the end of the conference, SHS students and the university students were paired with lecturers/researchers to serve as mentors and monitor the progress of the younger girls. The success of the programme increased the numbers of members in the Chapter from 20 active members to more than 30 active members. Ms Sylvia Ankamah became the secretary and received communications from the Headquarters as the contact person for UNER. Dr. Mrs. Mercy Derkyi became the UENR branch president and Genevive Adukpo, the University of Cape Coast branch contact person. The University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region is the current host institution for the Ghana Chapter. 

OWSD  has  so  far  provided  18 female Ghanaian women with scholarships for postgraduate studies. OWSD  has expanded their program toinclude early career scientist awards ($50,000) for young female scientists to carry out research and conference travels.

OWSD Logo

The Ghana chapter logo beautifully depicts the Ghanaian flag adorned with the caladium flower, the face of an African woman who reflects aboutscience and rich in knowledge. Collectively, our chapter logo means there is wisdom in the Ghanaian woman  which can be harnessed for National Development.

The Green stands for growth and productivity, Yellow  for the joy that comes from joining hands to bring about prosperity in the land. Red is thesacrifices

Chapter Executives