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Amanda Nyirah Bayeh embraces volunteerism, community service …urges youth to do same
A philosopher once said: “We are not given a good or a bad life; we are given a life and it is left to us to make it good or bad.’’
This expression somehow finds a place in the story of Amanda Nyirah Bayeh who did not allow financial and health challenges to limit her medical ambitions.
Just like other individuals from humble backgrounds, her mother solely shouldered her responsibilities due to the “unavailability” of her father.
girls to reach their goals●●Amanda inspires young
girls to reach their goals
This notwithstanding, she was able to progress through various stages of education to be inducted in September 2021 as one of the youngest medical doctors of her batch.
Although she was still finding her feet, she had already started giving back to society by volunteering and supporting various community outreaches targeted at the less privileged.
Amanda, in an interview with The Spectator, touched on aspects of her life; humanitarian works and the desire to empower young people reach their goals.
Background
The Medical Doctor of Liberian and Nigerian descent had basic education at Bethesda Methodist School but stayed home for a year due to financial challenges.
She later gained admission to Madina Senior High School in Accra to study General Science. In 2012, she entered University of Ghana Medical School after passing her final exams as a private candidate.
In spite of the remarkable feat, she admitted that lack of support from her biological father had affected her progress in diverse ways.
“There were days I expected him to ask of me but he never did. My mother made me not feel his absence because she made everything possible for us though things were difficult,” she said.
According to her, other social experiences including the struggles of less privileged mothers in providing medical care for their wards largely contributed and motivated her to pursue medicine.
Volunteerism
Describing volunteerism as combination of passion and sacrifice, she explained that her involvement in humanitarian works started in High School after she had chanced on the works of an Accra-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).
“I used to be part of the Curious Minds Programme on GBC Radio and on one of the days we had the chance to host the founder of the NGO who later gave details about how I could support their community programmes.
“I started and continued to provide support while in medical school anytime there was an outreach,’’ she explained.
In the last few years, Amanda had volunteered for a number of organisations including, Give Me Hope Foundation, Lovers Heart Foundation, Vodafone Health Foundation, The Royal Banquet Team, Divine Mother and Child Foundation, among others.
She is a member and volunteer of the Young African Global Leaders Network Summit (YALS) and was adjudged Humanitarian of the Year at the Style Icon and Art Awards in September 2021.
Impact
In November last year, she was the Guest Speaker at the African Women Forum programme at Klo Agogo Senior High School in the Yilo Krobo District of the Eastern Region to educate girls on reproductive health issues. She had previously interacted with students of Osino Presby Primary and Junior High Schools in the same region.
Impressed with the impact made in the relatively short period, she said volunteerism and community outreaches had enabled her to appreciate the challenges of young people hence the effort in championing their course.
Through collaboration with benevolent persons and organisations, she supports young girls in cash and kind indicating that her desire is for them to achieve more than she has been able to do so far.
The Youth Advocate, Photo Model, Entrepreneur and Media Enthusiast said she would continue to engage the youth through various platforms and inspire them to keep looking at the brighter side of life.
Other engagement
Currently on Housemanship at Agbogba Clinic in Accra, Amanda looks forward to becoming a Cardiologist. She intends to establish a medical facility purely dedicated to addressing the health and educational needs of children in future.
In September 2021, she started a fast-growing YouTube channel with the aim of sharing her personal experience and empower young people.
“Amanda TV wants to give the youth the opportunity to express themselves on topics and videos posted regularly. I want the youth to know that in every impossibility, there is a possibility,” she said.
Expressing further commitment to her medical calling, she said she was ready to serve in remote areas of the country whenever duty calls.
Gratitude
Amanda has two other siblings one of whom is also a medical doctor. She acknowledges the support of family and friends who continue to support her professional and personal endeavours and encourages young people to take up volunteering opportunities and “not always think of reward for whatever they do.”
By Ernest Nutsugah
PROF. Nana Ama Browne Klutse has emerged as one of Ghana’s most influential scientists in the field of climate research and environmental policy.
A distinguished physicist and climate scientist, she currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of Ghana, a role she assumed in January 2025 following her appointment by the President.
Her appointment places her at the helm of the nation’s foremost environmental regulatory body at a time when climate change and environmental sustainability have become critical issues for national development.
Before her current position, Prof. Klutse served as the Head of the Department of Physics at the University of Ghana from August 2023 to January 2025. Her leadership there was historic, as she became the first woman to occupy that position since the department was established.
In the same year, she achieved another remarkable milestone by becoming the first female full professor of Physics in Ghana and the first woman to attain that rank in the discipline at the University of Ghana in its 75-year history.
Beyond her national role, Prof. Klutse also commands global recognition in climate science. She currently serves as Vice-Chair of Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations body responsible for assessing the science related to climate change. Through this role, she contributes to shaping global climate knowledge and policy, while ensuring that Africa’s perspectives and experiences are reflected in international climate assessments.
Earlier in her career, Prof. Klutse worked as a Senior Research Scientist at the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute under the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, where she managed the Remote Sensing and Climate Centre.
Her research expertise lies in climate modelling, climate variability and climate change impacts, particularly in Africa. Over the years, she has contributed significantly to research initiatives that seek to understand climate patterns and develop adaptation and mitigation strategies for vulnerable communities.
Born in Nyanfeku Ekroful in the Central Region, Prof. Klutse began her academic journey at Nyanfeku Ekroful Community Nursery School before continuing her education at Anomabu Methodist Primary and Junior High School.
She later attended Mfantsiman Girls’ Secondary School, where her interest in science began to flourish.
She pursued a degree in Physics at the University of Cape Coast before furthering her studies in climatology at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Italy.
These academic experiences helped shape her career in climate science and strengthened her commitment to addressing the environmental challenges confronting Africa.
Prof. Klutse’s research focuses on atmospheric physics and the ways in which climate change affects critical sectors such as agriculture, water resources and public health. Her work also explores climate variability, climate modelling and solar radiation management. Through these studies, she transforms historical and projected climate data into actionable information that can guide policy decisions and help communities prepare for climate-related risks.
One of her recent research studies examined solar radiation management during the harmattan season and its possible impact on climate variability over southern West Africa. Her scholarly contributions have been widely recognised in the scientific community.
As of February 2025, she had published about 70 scholarly articles with more than 6,600 citations, highlighting the impact of her work on global climate research.
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and played a role in the development of Ghana’s National Framework for Climate Services.
In addition to her research achievements, Prof. Klutse is also a passionate educator.
At the University of Ghana, she teaches courses such as Electricity and Magnetism, Mechanics and Thermal Physics, Meteorology, Climate Change and Society, Climate Change Modelling and Research Methods. She is affiliated with both the Department of Physics and the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies.
Earlier in her academic career, she taught courses including Satellite and Radar Meteorology, Cloud Physics and Atmospheric Physics at the University of Cape Coast.
Her academic influence also extends beyond Ghana. She has served as a guest lecturer at the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) and at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, where she contributed to training the next generation of climate scientists across the African continent.
Prof. Klutse has also been actively involved in shaping Ghana’s climate policies. She contributed to the country’s Second, Third and Fourth National Communications to the United
Earlier, she collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme to develop early warning systems for floods and droughts in northern Ghana, helping to improve resilience to climate-related disasters.
Beyond her scientific and policy work, Prof. Klutse is committed to community engagement and mentoring young people, particularly girls interested in science. She actively promotes women’s participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and encourages young Ghanaian girls to pursue careers in scientific fields.
Her dedication and achievements have earned her several international recognitions, including the Schlumberger Faculty for the Future Award, the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Award and the UNESCO Award on Basic Physics for Young Scientists.
Prof. Klutse is married to Dr Charles Kofi Klutse of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, and together they have three children.
Through her work in research, education and environmental governance, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse continues to make remarkable contributions to science and national development, while inspiring a new generation of African scientists committed to tackling climate change and protecting the environment. —Source UG.edu.gh
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IN the annals of Ghana’s sporting history, certain individuals stand out not merely for participating in sport, but for transforming it.
Rev. Emmanuel D. Niikoi is one such figures. Revered as the father of modern netball in Ghana, is widely credited with rescuing the game from near extinction and transforming it into a vibrant, structured and nationally recognised sports discipline.
His journey reflects vision, resilience and an unwavering commitment to youth and sports development.
Netball was introduced to the then Gold Coast by Christian missionaries alongside formal education. By the 1960s and early 1970s, the sport had gained remarkable popularity in schools and colleges, ranking second only to football and, in some institutions, rivaling it in appeal.
However, during the 1974/75 academic year, the Ghana Education Service (GES) took a policy decision to step down netball in favour of basketball development. The decision dealt a severe blow to the sport.
Between 1975 and 1985, competitive netball virtually disappeared from Ghana’s sporting calendar.
That decision of the GES can be blamed for the current state of the sports that is producing heroines across the globe.
The revival of the game can be traced to 1985 during the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
At the time, Rev. Niikoi was serving as Chief Editor (News) in the Radio Newsroom. Understanding both the historical importance and untapped potential of netball, he championed the inclusion of a netball tournament as part of the anniversary celebrations. The event reignited public interest and reminded many of the sport’s former glory.
Crucially, Rev. Niikoi did not allow the momentum to fade after the festivities. The GBC netball team formed for the tournament, aptly named “Golden Hands,” became the cornerstone of a national revival campaign.
With determination and personal sacrifice, he led tours across the country, using the team as a practical training platform.
He personally taught sports teachers under the GES the official rules of netball, reintroduced structured competition, and restored confidence in the sport’s viability.
These efforts culminated with the formation of the Netball Association of Ghana in 1988, now known as the Netball Federation of Ghana.
In 1990, the association gained formal recognition from the National Sports Authorities, previously known as the National Sports Council (NSC), restoring netball’s status as an official sporting discipline.
This milestone marked the rebirth of organised netball in Ghana and cemented Rev. Niikoi’s place as founder of the national governing body.
Revival soon transitioned into consolidation. Over the years, Rev. Niikoi consistently lobbied educational and sports authorities to reintegrate netball into major school competitions.
His advocacy led to the sport’s reintroduction into the National Basic Schools Sports Festival, the Senior High and Technical Schools Sports Festival, the Colleges of Education games, and competitions under the Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA).
Today, netball is played across the entire educational structure in Ghana, from basic schools to public universities, a testament to his sustained and strategic efforts.
On the continental and global front, Ghana is a full member of World Netball and was a founding member of the Confederation of Africa Netball Associations (CANA), now Africa Netball.
In 2004, Ghana hosted the inaugural Africa Netball Cup of Nations in Accra and emerged champions after defeating Namibia in the final. The victory not only boosted Ghana’s sporting image but also validated years of groundwork.
In 2007, Rev. Niikoi was elected Director of Marketing and Media for CANA, serving a four-year term and contributing to the sport’s development across the continent.
In 2019, following governance reforms required by the International Olympic Committee to lift sanctions related to state interference in sports administration, national federations were mandated to adopt independent constitutions. Under this new framework, the Netball Federation of Ghana successfully drafted its constitution and conducted elections.
On June 19, 2019, Rev. Niikoi was elected the federation’s first President under the independent constitutional order which is symbolic and deserved recognition of decades of service.
Beyond netball administration, Rev. Niikoi also served two terms spanning eight years from March 2018 to March 2025 as an Executive Board Member of the Ghana Olympic Committee.
His presence on the board ensured that netball maintained visibility within Ghana’s broader Olympic movement.
A Bachelor of Arts graduate in Combined Honours (History and Law), Rev. Emmanuel D. Niikoi has trained numerous coaches and umpires nationwide, strengthening the sport’s technical foundation and ensuring sustainability.
His leadership style combines administrative discipline with grassroots engagement, making him both a strategist and a mentor.
From dormancy to dynamism, the resurgence of netball in Ghana bears his unmistakable imprint. Through advocacy, institution-building and capacity development, Rev. Niikoi has secured a lasting legacy.
Today, every netball match played in Ghana, whether at a basic school court or a university festival stands as living testimony to his vision and perseverance.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
