The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) join the global community in celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, observed annually on 11th February. This year’s theme, From Vision to Impact: Redefining STEM by Closing the Gender Gap, underscores the urgent need to create and expand opportunities for women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
As part of this year’s celebration, GAAS proudly honours Emerita Professor Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi, FGA, President of the Academy, whose distinguished career exemplifies how vision, persistence, and excellence can translate into lasting impact.
With over four decades devoted to research and teaching, Professor Quakyi is an accomplished immunologist and parasitologist whose work has significantly advanced malaria research and vaccine development. Her academic and research journey spans some of the world’s leading institutions, including the National Institutes of Health and Georgetown University in the United States, as well as universities in Australia, Cameroon and Thailand.
At the University of Ghana, Professor Quakyi’s legacy is firmly established. She founded the Immunology Unit at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, became the first female Director of the School of Public Health, and later served as the Founding Dean of the College of Health Sciences, once again breaking barriers as the first woman to hold the position.
Her scholarly contributions are equally remarkable. Professor Quakyi has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and played a key role in the development of the world’s first human malaria vaccine, RTS,S. Beyond Ghana, she has contributed to strengthening research capacity across Africa, including co-leading the NIH International Center of Infectious Diseases Research at the University of Yaoundé in Cameroon.
Yet, her impact extends far beyond laboratories and lecture halls. A dedicated mentor and advocate, Professor Quakyi has guided and inspired generations of young scientists, particularly women, encouraging them to pursue careers in STEM and to step confidently into leadership roles. Her contributions have earned her numerous honours, including the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Award for Women in Science and the Clara Southmayd Ludlow Award. In 2021, Women’s World Day recognised her as one of seven women in science who have helped change the world for the better.
As GAAS marks this year’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Academy not only celebrates Professor Quakyi’s extraordinary career but also recommits itself to advancing the full participation of women and girls in STEM. Yet the numbers tell a sobering story. Despite women’s critical contributions to national development, only 28 women are Fellows of the Academy, compared to 132 men, meaning women account for just 17.5 per cent of the total Fellowship across both the Arts and Sciences. This imbalance is not merely a statistic. It is a call to action for deliberate, sustained efforts to identify, support, and elevate more outstanding women into the Fellowship and into positions of influence within Ghana’s intellectual and scientific leadership.
Professor Quakyi has consistently drawn attention to this imbalance and continues to advocate for greater inclusion of women within the Fellowship. She maintains that increasing women’s representation would bring fresh perspectives, strengthen problem-solving, and enhance the Academy’s capacity to respond to Ghana’s most pressing national challenges.
Her life’s work stands as a powerful reminder that when women are supported to lead in science, the impact is transformative for institutions, for nations, and for future generations.
