Susan Ofori-Atta

Susan Ofori-Atta
Born 1917
Accra, Ghana
Died July 1985
Nationality Ghanaian
Alma mater
Occupation Physician
Spouse(s) E.V.C. de-Graft Johnson
Relatives

Susan Gyankorama Ofori-Atta also de-Graft Johnson (1917 – †1985) was a Ghanaian physician and the first female doctor in the Gold Coast.[1][2] Ofori-Atta was also the second West African woman to become a physician after Nigerian, Agnes Yewande Savage. [3] Eventually she became medical officer in charge at Kumasi Hospital, and later she assumed charge of the Princess Louise Hospital for Women.[1] Her contemporary was Matilda J. Clerk, the second Ghanaian woman to become a physician in the Gold Coast who incidentally was also educated at Achimota and Edinburgh. [1] She was made an Honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Ghana for her work on malnutrition in children, and received the Royal Cross from Pope John Paul II when he visited Ghana in 1980 in recognition of her offering of free medical services at her clinic. [4] She helped to establish the Women's Society for Public Affairs and was a Foundation Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences. [5] Her achievements were a symbol of inspiration to aspiring women physicians in Ghana. [5]

Early life and education

Ofori-Atta was born in Kyebi in 1917 to Nana Sir Ofori Atta I, the Okyenhene and Paramount Chief of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area and Nana Akosua Duodu, his wife. [5] A member of the historically important, Ofori-Atta dynasty, she received her primary education at sT. Mary's Convent at Elmina in 1921 and enrolled at Achimota School in 1929 for her secondary education. [5] Susan Ofori-Atta was one of the pioneer students after the college was opened in 1927 where she was the head girl's prefect in her final year and sat for the Cambridge School Certificate. [5] She studied midwifery at the Korle-Bu Midwifery Training School, graduating in 1935, and had further training in midwifery in Scotland. [5] After her tertiary education, she practised midwifery at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital,she further continued her education at Edinburgh University Medical School where she obtained her MBChB degree in 1949. [5] Her medical education abroad was sponsored by her wealthy chieftain father, Ofori Atta I. [5]

Career and advocacy

Ofori-Atta began her career as a midwife and then studied to become a pediatrician, making her the first female doctor in the Gold Coast now known as Ghana.[5] In 1960, she volunteered her time at a Congolese hospital that was understaffed. [6] She left the Princess Marie Louise Hospital to join the University of Ghana Medical School where she was a founding member of the Paediatric Department before starting her own private medical practice for women and children at her clinic, the Accra Clinic. [5]

She was an advocate for women and children causes and opposed the Akan system of inheritance, advocating legislation to address the issue and give right to the spouses and children to inherit their deceased spouses and fathers who died intestate. [5] Her efforts led to the PNDC Intestate Succession Law promulgated in 1985. [5] She was a member of the 1969 Constituent Assembly which drafted the Constitution for the Second Republic of Ghana. [5]

Susan Ofori-Atta was honoured by the University of Ghana, in 1974 with an honorary Doctor of Science for her pioneering research work into childhood malnutrition, “Kwashiokor”. [5] She was an active in the Catholic Church in Ghana, especially the Accra Diocese. [5] She was an executive member of the Federation of Association of Catholic Medical Doctors and a member of the Ghana Catholic Doctors Association. [5]

Personal life and family

She was married to E.V.C. de-Graft Johnson, a barrister-at-law based in Accra. [5] Her older brother was William Ofori-Atta, the Gold Coast politician and lawyer, former foreign minister and one of the founding leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and a member of "The Big Six", the group of political activists detained by the British colonial government after the 1948 Accra riots, kicking off the struggle for the attainment of Ghana's independence in 1957. Her other brother was Kofi Asante Ofori-Atta, a Minister for Local Government in the Convention People's Party (CPP) government of Kwame Nkrumahin and later Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana.

Death and legacy

She died of natural causes in July 1985 in the United Kingdom. [5] A girls' house at her alma mater, Achimota School was named after Ofori-Atta.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Adell Patton (1996). Physicians, Colonial Racism, and Diaspora in West Africa. University Press of Florida. pp. 29–. ISBN 978-0-8130-1432-6. Archived from the original on 15 April 2017.
  2. ↑ Richard Rathbone (1993). Murder and Politics in Colonial Ghana. Yale University Press. pp. 40–. ISBN 978-0-300-05504-7. Archived from the original on 14 April 2017.
  3. ↑ "CAS Students to Lead Seminar On University’s African Alumni, Pt. IV: Agnes Yewande Savage". Postgrads from the Edge. 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2017-08-05.
  4. ↑ Cecilia J. Dumor (August 2002). Nelson Thornes West African Readers Junior Readers 3. Nelson Thornes. pp. 124–. ISBN 978-0-7487-7034-2. Archived from the original on 21 April 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "National Commission on Culture". ghanaculture.gov.gh. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  6. ↑ "Friends in Deed". Jet. 19 (3): 44. 19 November 1960. Archived from the original on 14 May 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "Old Achimotan Association". www.oldachimotan.net. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-08.


Merged content from Susan Gyankorama De-Graft Johnson. See Talk:Susan Gyankorama De-Graft Johnson.

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