● Very Rev. Dr. Mrs Betty Frances Baidoo

As the voices calling for increased inclusion and opportunities for wom­en get louder, a significant number of female profession­als continue to prove their mettle in sectors which used to be the preserve of men.

This year’s International Women’s Day celebration was focused on helping bridge the gender gap in the digital space as the ratio of men to women in the area of technol­ogy remains unsatisfactory.

That notwithstanding, the day further presents an opportunity to recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women at all levels.

In the spirit of celebrat­ing outstanding women, The Spectator puts the spotlight on Very Rev. Dr Mrs Betty Frances Baidoo whose hard­work and tenacity has result­ed in her obtaining Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Guidance and Counselling.

She has been a Tutor/Edu­cationist since 1984 and rose through the ranks at differ­ent institutions in different regions until the highest academic qualification was conferred on her last week.

BACKGROUND

EDUCATION

Rev Dr Mrs Baidoo start­ed her basic education at Mmofra Turom at Kumasi and then proceeded to Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast where she completed and obtained a GCE ‘O’ Level Certificate in 1981 before proceeding to Wesley College, Kumasi, for the Teacher’s Certificate ‘A’ in 1984.

From 2000 to 2004, she studied at the University of Education, Winneba and graduated with Bachelor of Education (BED) in Home Economics. She continued teaching until 2010 when she started a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) course in Guidance and Counselling at the Uni­versity of Education, Winneba and graduated in 2014.

Two years later, she began her Doctorate Degree in Guidance and Counselling at University of Cape Coast and graduated in 2021.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Rev. Dr Mrs Baidoo’s pas­sion for teaching started at a tender age of 21 years at the Junior Secondary School at Dunkwa-On-Offin in the Central Region. She worked there for two years before moving to the Methodist Mid­dle School at Takoradi in the Western Region.

Between 1990 and 1995, she was at the Rev. Grant JSS at Efiakuma, Takoradi before moving to Akim Oda in the Eastern Region, where she became a Class Teacher, at Freeman Junior High School (JHS).

She further spent seven years teaching at Apam Senior High School prior to becoming a Chaplain and Counsellor at St. Johns Grammar School in 2011.

At St. Johns Grammar School, she held different portfolios including being a Home Economics tutor, Acting Head of Home Economics Department, and Senior Housemistress. Between 2018 and 2020 she was Assistant headmistress (Domestic Welfare).

In 2020 she was elevated to the rank of Assistant Head­mistress (Admin­istration) at the same insti­tution.

MINISTERIAL WORK

Currently handling the Anyaa Section of the Awoshie Circuit of the Methodist Church, Rev. Dr Mrs Baidoo has been the Auxiliary Min­ister at the Grace Society at Kwabenya.

She was the Caretaker Minister at Awortwi Pratt, Gomoa Ajumako Society from 2008 -2011 and went ahead to become the Auxiliary Minister at other church establish­ments in Accra including St John’s Society, Tantra Hill, Mt Zion Society, Dome, and the Allotey Memorial Society, Asofan.

Her ministerial work also saw her occupy Chaplain po­sitions in local church Circuits such as SUWMA-Kwabenya Circuit, SUWMA-New Achimota Circuit, among others.

She again served as Chair­person of the Coordinating Office for Education and Youth Development, while dou­bling as Society Secretary of Christ’s Little Band at Apam from 2006 – 2010.

QUALITIES

Throughout her career, Rev. Dr Mrs Betty Frances Baidoo demonstrated excel­lent leadership and constantly implemented new ideas to help improve the standard of her students and staff. All of these were possible as a result of her effective com­munication and administrative skills, and the application of good judgment in all endeav­ours.

In 2009, she was adjudged Best Teacher, Vocational Division in the Gomoa-West Education Directorate. In 2010, she became the Best Teacher, Vocational Division in the Central Region.

She loves conducting re­search, reading, counselling, and ensuring discipline at all levels of social engagement. No wonder she became the Chairperson of the Disci­plinary Committee at St. John’s Grammar School.

OTHER ENGAGEMENTS

Rev. Dr Mrs Baidoo chaired many committees and ex­celled in other capacities throughout her career. She chaired the Synod Committee of the Northern Accra Diocese of the Methodist Church and also led the COVID-19 team at St. John’s Grammar from 2020 to 2021.

She is a member of the Diocesan Advisory Team for Gender at the Northern Accra Diocese from 2020 to 2021, and was the Chairperson of the Coordinating Office for Social Service at New Achimo­ta Circuit from 2018- 2022.

In 2011, she was a Member of the Counselling Committee at St. John’s Grammar School, and a Member of the Ghana National Association of Teach­ers (GNAT) Oversight Commit­tee in Gomoa West District in the Central Region from 2009 to 2011.

She was Chairman of the Ghana Home Economics Association, in Gomoa West from 2009 to 2011, and GNAT Local Secretary, at Sekondi in the Western Region from 1992-1998, as well as School Guidance Coordinator at Freeman Junior High School at Akim Oda in the Eastern Region from 1998 to 1999.

By Ernest Nutsugah