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The Ghanaian News July 2018
Ms. Hanna S. Tetteh of Ghana as Director-General, United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) Ms. Tetteh is a practising Lawyer and holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Ghana, Legon Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). During her term as Minister for Trade and Industry, she was also a member of the Government’s economic management team, a member of the board of the Millennium Development Authority, a member of the National Development Planning Commission, and was also the Chairperson of the Ghana Free Zones Board. Hanna S. Tetteh of Ghana DirectorGeneral of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Hanna S. Tetteh of Ghana as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). She succeeds Ms. SahleWork Zewde who has been appointed as Special Representative to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU). Ms. Tetteh most recently served in the cabinet of the Government of Ghana as Minister for Foreign Affairs (January 2013-January 2017), and Minister for Trade and Industry (February 2009-January 2013). While serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs, she was also a member of the National Security Council and the Armed Forces Council. From 2014 to 2015 she was the Chairperson of the Council of
Beginning in December 2000 to January 2005 she served for one term as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for the Awutu Senya Constituency. She later returned to Parliament in January 2013 until January 2017 as the NDC Member of Parliament for the Awutu Senya West Constituency. Ms. Tetteh is a practising Lawyer and holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Ghana, Legon. She also completed her professional law course at the Ghana School of Law and was called to the Ghana Bar in October 1992.
Akufo-Addo names Jean Mensa as new EC chair President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has named the boss of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) as the new chairperson of the Electoral Commission. Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa is currently the Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), and Co-ordinator of the Ghana Political Parties Programme. She is a lawyer by profession, and has carved a niche for herself in the field of policy research and advocacy. She has been involved in the development of policies such as the Presidential Transition Act of 2012; the Revised 1992 Constitution of Ghana (draft); the Political Parties Funding Bill; and the Revised Political Parties Bill. In 2010, she served as a Commissioner of 1992 Constitution.
Mr. Tamrat Samuel, Assistant SecretaryGeneral and Senior Coordinator for Peace and Security Reform in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, will serve as Acting Director-General until Ms. Tetteh assumes her position.
Review Commission, and is currently a member of the Government Committee tasked with preparing the Affirmative Action Bill. She is married with three children.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations - Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
M r S a m u e l Te t t e y Mr. Samuel Tettey is
Landing in the right place By Sarah Janes, SHARE
Growing up, he was fascinated by astronauts. He also wanted to be a doctor. But could he find a career that combined medicine and space? When he began his studies at McMaster in 2013, Kwasi Nkansah ’17 had no idea that his interactions with professors and other mentors would help him find exactly that career. Nkansah spent his first year, like most students, taking a mix bag of courses. In his second year he met with one of his professors, Jonathon Stone, associate professor of biology, who helped steer him towards Life Sciences with a specialization in bio-physiology. His electives were in astronomy and physics. In the summer of second year Nkansah took a research position in Grant McClelland’s lab in the department of biology. There, Nkansah looked at extreme conditions in which an organism can survive. Conditions such as extreme cold and low oxygen environments – both applicable to space. That experience only strengthened his interests. Through Jonathon Stone, Nkansah was also introduced to Canadian Space Agency professionals with whom he connected by email. Notably, Dafydd Williams – astronaut and physician scientist for McMaster and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, and CSA flight surgeon Raffi Kyuymjian. “Raffi told me to apply to the
Kwasi Nkansah
Kwasi Nkansah ’17 International Space University in Strasbourg, France,” says Nkansah. “He inspired me to pursue a career in space medicine so that Canada can continue to have a strong role in that field.” After graduating with a Science degree in 2017, Nkansah followed Kyuymjian’s advice and was accepted at the International Space University. One of four Canadians enrolled in the Master’s of Space Study program, he is now on a sixmonth internship at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. The end goal for Nkansah is to become a flight surgeon. A term, he says, that is a misnomer. They do not, in fact, perform any surgery. “A flight surgeon’s role is to care for both the medical and psychological state of astronauts,” explains Nkansah. “Whether astronauts are in space or on Earth, their
mental and physical well-being is important.” Throughout a mission in microgravity, astronaut cardiovascular fitness declines, but it is not fully understood why. In his internship in Germany, Nkansah takes part in a study to address those concerns by testing new methods and devices to accurately and non-invasively track an astronaut’s heart in space. “This is important to us because astronauts perform activities outside of the space station that requires above average levels of fitness.” Astronauts need a fully functional cardiovascular system for re-entry to normal gravity on Earth so that they can escape the vehicle in the case of hazards like fire or water. The devices will provide a better understanding of why cardiovascular fitness declines in space and how to keep astronauts at optimal health. Eventually, these devices could be used on the International Space Station. It’s worthwhile to invest in space research, says Nkansah. He points to many parallels between what’s being done in space and down here on Earth – LED technology, telemedicine, and Canadarm technology for robotic surgery, to name a few examples. “People should pursue their goals and not be dissuaded if their interests seem too niche. If you speak to the right people and you work hard, you’ll find your place.”
Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa currently the Director, Electoral Services (Elections) at the Electoral Commission, a position he has held since January 2014. He has held several positions in the Electoral Commission, including District Electoral Officer in the Awutu/Effutu/ Senya District, and Central Regional Director of the EC, a position he held from 2005 to 2011. He has been a member of many Election Observer Missions to countries such as the Kingdom of Lesotho, Guinea and Liberia. He is married with three children. Dr Eric Asare Bossman Dr. Eric Asare Bossman is currently the Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana, Legon. He holds
a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs from Ohio University, and, also, has a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Political Science from West Virginia University. He is the author of several policy papers in the areas of international politics, democracy in Ghana, and has teaching and research interests in the fields of Comparative Public Policy, Democratic Development, Public Policy Analysis, Human Rights, International Security, Globalisation, and Forced Migration. Ms Adwoa Asuama Abrefa Ms Adwoa Asuama Abrefa is a corporate legal practitioner, with specialisation in land/ property acquisitions, c o r p o r a t e l a w, a n d corporate governance. She is currently the General Manager, Legal and Corporate Affairs, at Cirrus Oil Services Limited, and holds an LLM Master of Laws Degree in Oil and Gas, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon. She is married with one child. Graphic. com.gh
Black Woman Named President of American Medical Association, Makes History “No one in my family had gone to medical school, and I had no family friends that did,” Harris said. “It is not an easy thing to do if you don’t know or don’t have guidance as what to major in.”
Dr. Patrice Harris Dr. Patrice Harris has made history by becoming the first African-American woman elected to be president of the American Medical Association (AMA). Harris, who hails from Bluefield, West Virginia and was elected last month, will serve as the Association’s 174th president, according to Charleston Gazette-Mail.
The West Virginia University (WVU) graduate, who begins her tenure as president June 2019, knew she wanted to be a doctor, but wasn’t sure how to achieve it since no one else in her family had gone to medical school.
Harris studies psychiatry in Atlanta, Georgia and told the Gazette mail that she initially wanted to pursue another form of medicine. “It was my plan to be a pediatrician, and that was my plan up until my third year of medical school,” She said. “The brain was just fascinating to me, and when I went to my third-year psychiatry clerkship I felt at home, and I then decided that I could merge my love for working with children and adolescents with psychiatry.” Harris received her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and a medical degree from WVU and was named a delegate to the AMA when she joined the cont’d on pg. 12