GHANA-AFRICA
Dr. Mary Amoako comes from a family of scientists in Ghana. She is a researcher and university lecturer, and since it runs in the family, it is no surprise that her work is being recognized.
Amoako was recently honored as one of 30 African recipients of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talents Sub-Saharan Africa Awards.
Given the challenges faced by African scientists, University world news asked Amoako to talk about some of the difficulties she has experienced in her career, but also how she turned them into opportunities.
Amoako also talks about why she decided to return to Ghana from the United States after successfully completing her PhD studies, and how she runs a successful business while doing her research.
UWN: Where did you study as part of your academic career?
MA: I am Ghanaian and obtained my PhD from Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States, where I obtained a PhD in Human Nutrition and a Certificate in Epidemiology. I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology [in Ghana]and an MPhil in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the same university.
UWN: Are there comparisons you can make after studying both at home and abroad?
MA: The resources for studying abroad are phenomenal. From well-equipped laboratories where all research work is carried out without barriers, extremely good and effective mentorship and exposure to numerous scientific conferences that have helped me with collaborations to tailor my research to fuel the future. These are the differences I noticed abroad.
UWN: What research are you conducting that earned you the L’Oréal-UNESCO Award?
MA: I am working on how nutrition affects the likelihood that children will develop orofacial cleft (cleft lip and cleft palate) and all other forms of birth defects. I do this by assessing the mothers’ diet before pregnancy and the folic acid levels in their blood.
UWN: What prompted you to start working on solving this problem?
MA: Many children live lives below their mental and intellectual capabilities due to nutrient deficiencies. Furthermore, the nutrition of the orofacial cleft in Ghana has not been sufficiently investigated. So I teamed up with an astute researcher working on the genetics of cleft palate, Dr. Lord Jephthah Joojo Gowans from my university. After our many deliberations, the idea of this project was born and I was happy that L’Oréal-UNESCO decided to support this vision.
UWN: Are there any hurdles you faced that could have derailed your scientific dream? If there were, how did you tackle and overcome them?
MA: Some of them presented themselves when I came from the US to settle in Ghana. I didn’t get a job right away, as promised. I was unemployed and that was a big obstacle. After the delays and frustrations, I decided to start a company and hire myself. That was when I started my first business, Diet-Trust Foods and Nutrition Consult, a nutrition consulting and advocacy company in Ghana. Not only have I turned my lemons into lemonade, I’ve turned them into lemon donuts, lemon risotto, and lemon pie, among other things!
UWN: After studying abroad, students from Africa often do not return home. What made you return home?
MA: I have never been one to be fascinated by living abroad. I was sponsored by a USAID program to train faculty members for universities in developing countries. I gave my word that I would come back after my training to serve at my university and I kept my word! Take a course and start working as a teacher.
UWN: What sparked your scientific interest?
MA: All my brothers are science students: a doctor, a pharmacist and two mechanical engineers – or so they turned out. My older brother, now a doctor, would often watch the National Science and Mathematics Quiz, a competitive quiz for high school students in Ghana, and make a lot of noise about it. I was very curious about what made him so enthusiastic about science. That’s when I decided to follow suit. All my brothers have been an inspiration to my career development.
UWN: Tell us about the business you started and how it’s going.
MA: My company is Diet-Trust Foods and Nutrition Consult. As a nutrition and lifestyle company that specializes in advocacy and advice and guiding individuals, families and organizations in making healthy lifestyle choices, it is doing well. This platform allows me to inform Ghanaians about healthy food and lifestyle choices. More importantly, I can communicate the results of my research to vulnerable groups.
UWN: What are some of the challenges researchers like you face in Africa, and what needs to be done?
MA: It can be a challenge to return home as a researcher after leaving your country.
Transitioning from a PhD to an independent researcher and teacher can be challenging as you may not have the resources to conduct research and set up laboratories. Capacity building programs can be helpful, including mentorship and grants.
UWN: How do you balance business, your research work and your family?
MA: Hmmmmmm. It is not easy. Time management, prioritizing my activities and the God factor have been key.
UWN: As a teacher, are you happy with the male-female ratio in your lectures? If it is not beneficial, what should be done?
MA: Research and academia are male-dominated and I believe the gap can be bridged if most women are empowered to overcome the socio-cultural factors associated with climbing the academic ladder.
UWN: Where do you see yourself in five years?
MA: I see myself changing my world with multidisciplinary research, especially in improving food security in Africa among vulnerable groups. The problem of food security cannot be solved by one person. The seed of demand… countless scientists play a critical role in helping with food access, availability and utilization. I aspire to be a world leader in the fight against hunger by working with other great scientists to eradicate hunger from our world!
You see, in academia and science, people are sometimes fascinated by the manuscripts we publish, but I will say this: my scholarly manuscripts mean nothing to me if the information in those manuscripts does not impact the lives of the vulnerable population groups I work with. Proposing and implementing interventions to reduce hunger in our world is key.