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Professor Margaret Gyapong wins ‘Outstanding Female Scientist’ prize
Professor Margaret Gyapong, Director of the Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), has received the ‘Most Outstanding Female Scientist 2020 Prize’ from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP).
The award was in recognition of her involvement in research and innovation activities in sub-Saharan Africa and the significant scientific contributions she continued to make in the field.
EDCTP, which among other things supports clinical research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa, described Professor Gyapong as “a true ambassador to achieving equity in research for health.”
Prof Gyapong, a former Director of the Dodowa Health Research Centre in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, has for the past 25 years risen through the ranks of the research ladder to become a seasoned and internationally renowned scientist.
Expressing appreciation to her team in an interview, she praised funding organisations such as the EDCTP for deepening scientific research in Africa, adding that she had always dreamt of winning the award and was, therefore, humbled upon receiving the grand prize.
With a background in Medical Anthropology and Epidemiology and Research, her interests are in Malaria, Neglected Tropical Diseases and Implementation Research.
Prof Gyapong said she was working on other projects including Adolescent Reproductive Health as well as “exploring implementation challenges” in the newly developed malaria vaccine.
In 2017, she was one of 12 women across the world to receive the first Heroines of Health Award for her work in drawing attention to the needs of women suffering from the consequences of Neglected Tropical Disease.
She is a Reviewer and Associate Editor for a number of international journals and has 94 publications to her credit.
The scholar, married to Prof. John Owusu Gyapong with three daughters, urged female scientists to rise up to the task, irrespective of the many commitments and challenges they faced.
EDCTP is a partnership between countries in Europe and Sub-saharan Africa, supported by the European Union.
Comprising 14 European countries and 16 African countries, the organisation “accelerates the clinical development of new or improved medicinal products for the identification, treatment and prevention of poverty-related infectious diseases.”
By Spectator Reporter
A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Bekwai Circuit Court for his role in a 2022 robbery at a mining site at Manso Akwasiso in the Ashanti South Region.
The convict, Dominic Ofori, also known as Fanta, was arrested on 16th February 2026 after years on the run. He pleaded guilty before the Bekwai Circuit Court to robbery contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 Act 29, and was accordingly sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour.
On March 20, 2022, the Manso Adubia District Police received intelligence that a group of armed men from Manso Abodom were planning to attack a mining site at Manso Akwasiso to rob the owner of gold concentrate. Acting on the information, police mounted a coordinated operation and laid an ambush at the site.
At about 5:30 pm the same day, four-armed men arrived at the site, fired indiscriminately, and robbed the miners of their gold concentrate. The police team on surveillance intervened, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Three of the suspects, Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif, and Gideon Takyi, sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at St Martins Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum. Dominic Ofori escaped at the time but was later arrested and put before the court.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has assured the public of its continued commitment to combating violent crimes and bringing offenders to justice.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested 45-year-old Isaac Boafo, also known as “Duabo King,” for allegedly publishing false news intended to cause fear and panic.
Police said the arrest follows a viral TikTok video in which Boafo claimed that four officers at the Central Police Station in Kumasi engaged in inappropriate conduct with commercial sex workers during night patrols in Asafo.
Officers from the Police Intelligence Directorate (Ashanti Region) apprehended Boafo after receiving intelligence about the video.
During questioning, he admitted to creating the video to attract views and engagement online, and acknowledged that he could not prove the allegations.
Boafo also admitted making comments about the President of the Republic for content purposes and could not defend those statements.
He has been formally charged and is in detention as investigations continue.
The Ashanti Regional Police have warned the public against publishing or sharing false information on social media, noting that such acts can cause fear, panic, and damage reputations.
They said anyone found engaging in similar conduct will face legal action.
By: Jacob Aggrey
