Mary Grant (politician)
Mary Grant (6 August 1928 – 18 September 2016)[2] was a Ghanaian physician and politician. She was Ghana's first Council of State member and also the first Wesley Girls High School alumna to be a medical doctor.[3] Grant was the third Ghanaian woman to qualify in medicine after Susan Ofori-Atta (1947) and Matilda J. Clerk (1949). She was a relation of Paa Grant, who has been called "the father of Gold Coast politics".[4]
Mary Grant | |
|---|---|
| Council of State Member | |
| Minister of Education and Culture | |
| In office 1991–1993[1] | |
| Member of National Defence Council for General Affairs | |
| In office 1989–2001[1] | |
| Deputy Minister of Health | |
| In office 1988–1989[1] | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 August 1928 |
| Died | 18 September 2016 (aged 88) 37 Military Hospital, Accra, Ghana |
| Nationality | Ghanaian |
| Alma mater | Wesley Girls High School |
Education edit
Mary Grant had her basic education at Obuasi Methodist School. She had her secondary education from the Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast,[3] and went on to become the school's first alumna to qualify as a medical doctor after completing her training in the United Kingdom.[5]
Career edit
After working in the government health service as a medical officer, Mary Grant began her political career when she appointed Secretary of Health in 1985.[6] Grant held many positions, including Deputy Minister of Health and Member of the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC). She later became the Minister of Education and Culture and also a Member of Council of State.[7][8][9][10][11]
She led Ghana's delegation to many international conferences, including World Health Organisation (WHO) General Assemblies in Geneva and Regional Conferences in Africa, World Bank Meeting in Africa Health, Cairo Conference on Population and Development, and she was among Ghana's delegation to the World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995.[12]
Awards and honours edit
Grant received an award during the Maiden Women's Award ceremony.[13] At its 39th Annual General Conference in 1997, the Ghana Medical Association awarded her a Certificate of Honour in appreciation of "her concern for the welfare of doctors." In the same year, she received a State Award for her “wise and forthright counsel as a member of the Council of State”.[14]
Death and state funeral edit
She died aged 88, on the afternoon of 18 September 2016 at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra,[12] and was given a state funeral.[5]
References edit
- ^ a b c "The Republic of Ghana (Female suffrage 1949/54) A number of territories administered by the British after World War II as a United Nations Trusteeship until gaining independence 1957 and becoming a republic in 1960". WORLDWIDE GUIDE TO WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP. from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ . GhanaWeb. Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ a b . Wesley Girls High School. Archived from the original on 1 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ Jonas Nyabor, "Mary Grant was 'a formidable woman' – Rawlings" 2017-01-07 at the Wayback Machine, News Central, Citifmonline, 29 September 2016.
- ^ a b Delali Adogla-Bessa, "Rawlings, Kufuor, Mahama, pay last respects to Mary Grant" 2017-01-07 at the Wayback Machine, News Central, Citifmonline, 21 October 2016.
- ^ . Myjoyonline. Myjoyonline. Archived from the original on 2017-01-05. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ "Ghana: Mary Grant Against Marriage At 16". The Independent (Accra). allAfrica. 18 June 1998. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ Kofi, Yeboah (12 November 2007). "Cases of high blood pressure, diabetes go up - Pobee". Kofi Yeboah Stories. from the original on 2016-10-13. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "FRIMPONG-BOATENG COUNTS ON RAWLINGS PV OBENG, MARY GRANT… As Unique Trust boss endorses him". Modern Ghana. Ghanaian Chronicle. 23 February 2007. from the original on 2017-01-07. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Mrs. Grant Launches Millennium Excellence Awards". GhanaWeb. 26 August 1999. from the original on 2016-09-19. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "The late President Mills buried". Ghana News Agency. Ghana News Agency. from the original on 2016-09-16. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ a b . Myjoyonline.com. 19 September 2016. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
- ^ . Saboba's Hope, Inc. Saboba's Hope Fullerton, Ca. Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Dr Mary Grant is dead". Pulse Gh. 2016-09-19. Retrieved 2020-05-06.