by Ghana-Africa
Dr Mary Amoako comes from a family of scientists in Ghana. She is a researcher and university lecturer, and since it runs in the family, it is no surprise that her work has been recognised.
Amoako was recently honored as one of 30 people in Africa to win the L’Oréal-UNESCO Young Laureates Sub-Saharan Africa Awards for Women in Science.
Given the challenges facing African scientists, World University News she asked Amoako to talk about some of the difficulties she faced in her career, but also how she turned them into opportunities.
Amoako also talks about why she decided to return home to Ghana from the United States after completing her PhD studies, and how she is running a successful business while doing her research.
UWN: Where did you study as part of your academic career?
MA: I am a Ghanaian, with a PhD from Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States of America, where I did a PhD in human nutrition and a certificate in epidemiology. I obtained an undergraduate qualification in biochemistry at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology [in Ghana]and an MPhil in human nutrition and dietetics from the same university.
UWN: After you have studied at home and abroad, any comparisons you can make?
MA: The resources for studying abroad are great. From well-equipped laboratories where all the research work is done without any barriers, amazing and effective mentoring, and exposure to numerous scientific conferences that helped me collaborate to adapt my research for the future. Here are the differences I noticed abroad.
UWN: What research are you doing that gave you the L’Oréal-UNESCO Award?
MA: I am working on how diet affects the likelihood of children developing cleft or face (cleft lip and palate) and all other types of birth defects. I am doing this by assessing the mother’s diets before pregnancy and the levels of folic acid in their blood.
UWN: What influenced you to decide to work to solve this challenge?
MA: The lives of many children are below their mental and intellectual potential due to numerous nutritional deficiencies. In addition, there are few studies on the split-nutrition of the fabre in Ghana. So I established a collaboration with an astute researcher who works with cleft palate genetics, Dr Lord Jephthah Joojo Gowans from my university. After our many discussions, the idea of this project emerged and I was happy that L’Oréal-UNESCO decided to support this vision.
UWN: Are there any obstacles you’ve faced that could derail your science dream? If so, how did you handle them and overcome?
MA: Some of them presented themselves when I came from the US to settle in Ghana. I didn’t get a job right away, as promised. I was unemployed, and it was a big obstacle. After the delay and frustration, I decided to start a company and employ myself. That’s when I started my first business, Diet-Trust Foods and Nutrition Consult, a nutrition consulting and advocacy company in Ghana. Not only did I turn my lemons into lemonade, I made lemon doughnuts, lemon risotto, and lemon pie, among other things!
UWN: After studying abroad, African students often do not return home. What made you return home?
MA: I have never been someone who has always been interested abroad. I was sponsored by a USAID program to train faculty members for universities in developing countries. I gave my word that I would come back to serve at my university after my training and I kept my word! Go and get trained and get a job as a lecturer.
UWN: What sparked your interest in science?
MA: All my brothers are science students: a medical doctor, a pharmacist and two mechanical engineers – that’s how they got on. My older brother, now a medical doctor, would watch the National Science and Maths Quiz, a competitive quiz for senior high school students in Ghana, and make a lot of noise about it. I was very curious to know what got him so excited about science. That’s when I decided to follow suit. All my brothers have been an inspiration for my career.
UWN: Tell us about the business you started and how it’s going.
MA: My business is Diet-Tust Foods and Nutrition Consult. As a nutrition and lifestyle firm that specializes in advocacy and consulting, guiding individuals, families and organizations to make healthy lifestyle choices, it is doing well. With this platform, I can educate Ghanaians on healthy diets and lifestyle choices. More importantly, I am able to communicate the output of my research to vulnerable groups.
UWN: What are some of the challenges facing researchers like you in Africa, and what needs to be done?
MA: Settling back after leaving your country as a researcher can be challenging.
It can be a challenge to transition from a PhD to an independent researcher and lecturer because, sometimes, you don’t have the money to do research and set up laboratories. Capacity building programs can be helpful, such as mentoring and grants, among others.
UWN: How do you balance business, your research work and your family?
MA: Hmmmmm. It is not easy. Time management, prioritizing my activities and the God factor were key.
UWN: As a lecturer, are you satisfied with the ratio between men and women in your lectures? If it is not favorable, what to do?
MA: Research and academia are dominated by men and I believe that the gap can be bridged if most women are empowered to overcome the socio-cultural factors involved in climbing the academic ladder.
UWN: Where do you see yourself in five years?
MA: I see myself changing my world with multidisciplinary research, especially in improving food security in Africa among vulnerable groups. One person cannot solve the problem of food security. The crux of the matter…many scientists play critical roles in helping access, availability and use of food. I aspire to be a world leader in the fight against hunger by collaborating with other great scientists to kick hunger out of our world!
You see, in academia and research, sometimes people are interested in the manuscripts we publish, but I will say this: my learned manuscripts mean nothing to me if the knowledge in those manuscripts does not impact the lives of vulnerable communities who I work with. Proposing and implementing interventions to reduce hunger in our world is critical.
