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Ms Prinsca Godoh, adding professional touch to auto spraying
The limited job opportunities in the world is fast eroding the notion that some professions are the preserve of men.
It is interesting to note that, women have ventured into more daring professions to prove a point that what men can do, women are capable of doing.
By dint of hard work and perseverance, women have turned engineers, medical doctors, painters, exquisite artists, renowned academicians, bus drivers, pilots and top-notch professionals among others.
Following the example of such women, 28-year-old Ms Prinsca Akorfa Godoh, a native of Ve Gbordome in the Volta Region who had developed a passion for auto spraying, enrolled at the Xorlali Spraying Shop at Adentan, Accra to learn the trade.
Ms Godoh said her mother readily gave her blessings when she sought her consent to learn the trade. “If that is what you intend to do, then l have no objection,” she said.
According to Ms Godoh, the man from whom she learnt the trade encouraged her to remain focused on the job because there was a lady apprentice who had enrolled and was doing pretty well before she joined.
She admitted that, though the trade looked very simple and attractive, learning it was not as easy as one would have thought. The task to sandpaper a car was one of the most difficult aspects of the trade which nearly put her off.
Ms Godoh described how an automobile sprayer has to apply filler paste on the rugged surfaces of a car, sandpaper it after which putty was applied.
She said the application of putty at this stage of the work was basically to help fill the minor holes which were left on the car.
She explained that different sizes of sandpaper were used at different stages of the preparation process to make the final spraying look smooth and nice.
Having finished this stage, the car would be washed to clean dust that might have percolated on it. The sprayer would then go ahead to cover parts of the car, which were made of glass and rubber with paper to make way for the first spraying.
Ms Godoh said the car would be checked again to find out if there were any potholes left and fill them before the final spraying would be carried out.
She said she was surprised about the high commendation she received after the successful completion of her first spraying job. The car owner was exceedingly glad about the professional touch she had applied to her work.
Apprenticeship
The young sprayer intimated that she commenced her apprenticeship in 2008 when she was only 16 years old.
Ms Godoh said she completed her apprenticeship after three- and-a – half years, opened a shop at Frafraha on the Adentan -Dodowa road, and has since trained three people, while two apprentices are under training.
Diversification
“Unlike the sale of food which demands that people should purchase every day, my work does not follow in that line. There are times that the job comes in series and there are times that one becomes idle with no work to be done,” she said.
Being innovative in her approach to work and ever ready to seize any opportunity whenever possible, Ms Prinsca Godoh has opened a shop where she sells paints for spraying cars, but ends up using the paints more for her work.
She said she had added the sale of cooked rice, beans, banku and akple to occupy herself whenever there was no job.
Plans
Ms Godoh said her desire was to own a spraying booth where quality spraying or good work would be done. She said quality product was that which kept many renowned entrepreneurs in business over the years.
Additionally, she would like to train more capable hands to be in charge of the job while she stepped back to assume a supervisory role in the future.
Her advice to the youth especially the girls, is that, they should try their hands on other jobs and work hard to achieve heights their intellect would permit them.
Education
Although Prinsca completed the Vedeme Local Authority Elementary School, she could not continue her education because she lost her father when she was a baby. Unfortunately, her mother, a single parent, could not support her.
Social Life
Prinsca who is the third and last child of her parents, attends the Pentecost Church, Adentan, Ewe Assembly and she is devoted to serving God.
Her hobbies include cooking, doing household chores, dancing and listening to good music. She likes boiled rice with cabbage stew.
By Raymond Kyekye
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
