A photo of Prof Marian Ewurama Addy
Across Africa and beyond, women continue to shatter glass ceilings in science, technology, and academia.
From laboratories to lecture halls, women are redefining what is possible, proving that brilliance, leadership, and innovation have no gender boundaries. These pioneering women are not just succeeding individually; they are opening doors for generations of girls to come.
In Ghana, one such remarkable figure who changed the course of scientific history is Professor Marian Ewurama Addy, the first Ghanaian woman to rise to the rank of full professor of natural science.
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Prof Addy was a biochemist, scholar, and visionary whose life’s work transformed both scientific education and the perception of women in academia. Her story is one of determination, intellect, and a deep belief in the transformative power of science and education.
Here is a brief profile of Prof Marian Ewurama Addy
Marian Ewurama Addy was born on February 7, 1942, in Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region, to Samuel Joseph Cole and Angelina Kwofie Cole.
Marian’s brilliance and curiosity were evident from a young age. She received her early education at St Monica’s Secondary School in Mampong-Ashanti and Holy Child Girls’ School in Cape Coast, where she earned her ‘O’ and ‘A’ level certificates.
These formative years shaped her love for learning and her confidence to pursue paths less travelled by women at the time.
She furthered her studies at the University of Ghana, earning a degree in botany, and later obtained both her master’s and doctorate degrees in biochemistry from Pennsylvania State University in the United States.
Her academic journey was a testament to her drive for excellence and her commitment to advancing scientific knowledge that was both relevant and accessible.
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As a lecturer and researcher, Prof Addy made her mark at the University of Ghana and Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC, where she taught biochemistry to undergraduate, postgraduate, medical, and dental students.
Her research focused on the scientific analysis of herbal medicine, examining the safety, efficacy, and biochemical mechanisms of traditional remedies used by local healers.
Through her work, she sought to bridge the gap between traditional and modern science, affirming that indigenous knowledge, when validated through research, holds immense potential for health and development.
Professor Addy’s influence extended far beyond the classroom and laboratory. She was passionate about science communication and female empowerment, dedicating her time to mentoring young women and promoting STEM education across Ghana.
Her national prominence grew when she became the first Quiz Mistress of the National Science and Mathematics Quiz (NSMQ), a programme that became a cultural phenomenon. Her confident and graceful presence on screen inspired countless young Ghanaians, especially girls, to see science as exciting, attainable, and vital to the country’s progress.
In recognition of her exceptional work in science education and outreach, Professor Addy received the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularisation of Science in 1999.
That same year, she was inducted as a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the highest honours in academia.
In 2008, she became the President of the Anglican University College of Technology, further solidifying her role as a leader in advancing technical and higher education in Ghana.
Prof Marian Ewurama Addy passed away in Accra on January 14, 2014, but her legacy continues to live on through the lives she touched and the doors she opened. Her name remains synonymous with excellence, mentorship, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) notes that “Her legacy serves as a potent reminder of the value of mentoring, representation, and ongoing funding for STEM education. The impact of Professor Ewurama Addy endures in the minds she influenced, the boundaries she dismantled, and the scientific direction she helped to mould.”
Today, as more Ghanaian and African women rise to prominence in the sciences, it is worthy to note that Professor Addy’s story continues to echo a powerful truth—that when women are empowered to lead, they lift entire generations with them.
JKB/EB
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