Professor Elizabeth Aba Bentil Andam (FGA), Ghana’s first female physicist with a PhD, is calling for stronger investment in science to create more opportunities for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Speaking in an interview with the Association of African Universities on impact stories on April 4th 2026, Prof. Andam stressed that funding, well equipped laboratories, and strong support for teachers are essential to building scientific capacity. She described funding as an essential vitamin for scientific growth and noted that it plays a key role in helping more young people, especially women, to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
From a small village in Ajumako Kokoben, Prof. Andam has built a remarkable career in research, institution building, and advocacy. She rose to become the second female President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, serving from 2017 to 2019, and continues to be a strong voice for science development across Africa.
Reflecting on her journey, she shared that she was often the only woman in the room, from her days as a physics student at the University of Cape Coast to her postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom and her early research career in Germany. Despite this, she recalls no hostility, pointing instead to the possibilities that exist for women in science.
She also highlighted the importance of family support, noting that many successful women in science were encouraged at home. Her own father, though he had no formal education, remained committed to supporting her education as far as she wanted to go.
Prof. Andam continues to advocate for stronger scientific institutions and major initiatives such as the African Light Source, which would support research across medicine, chemistry, biology, and physics. With Ghana’s leadership in the International Year for Quantum Science and Applications, she has also encouraged corporate Ghana to invest in the next generation of scientists to sustain the country’s progress.
Through leaders such as Prof. Andam, the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences continues to make a meaningful impact by shaping conversations on science, policy, and development in Ghana and across Africa.
Impact Stories is an Association of African Universities programme that tells the real stories of remarkable people through in-depth interviews, taking viewers into the lives of individuals who have worked hard, overcome challenges, and made a difference in the world around them. Each episode explores where these individuals started, what they went through, and how they got to where they are today looking at the struggles they faced, the lessons they learned, and the turning points that changed their lives. The programme features remarkable personalities and everyday heroes, individuals whose lives and work demonstrate impact, growth, and a legacy worth sharing.
