Sitting at the ‘table of scholars’ …exceptional story of Dr. Mrs. Wilhelmina Annie Mensah

As efforts intensify to correct norms and stereotypes that inhibit girls’ participation in science, more tenacious women continue to prove their mettle in the sciences being considered the preserve of men.

Dr. Mrs. Wilhelmina Annie Mensah, is one of Ghana’s young female scientists, who have over the years stuck to her vision of “sitting at the table of scholars” despite setbacks.

At 35, she has specialised in Nutrigenomics and Nutraceuticals/Bioceuticals (the science of using food as medicine as it relates to our genes/genome) and aims to make further inroads in her field of specialisation.

The Spectator recently interacted with the Researcher and Lecturer on aspects of her academic and professional journey as she encourages girls to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education to the highest level.

Having obtained her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in February this year, she describes the past six years of her life as “a great learning phase” and attributes her feat to providence, perseverance and the role of a “solid support system.”

Interest

Dr. Mensah recalled her interest in science was kindled at St. Andrew Junior High School at Asante Mampong in the Ashanti Region after she was selected to represent her district at a STEM clinic for girls as well as a candidate in the National Kiddie quiz competitions.

Young as she was, she had won an award for taking up a school project to transform shea butter into a deodorised and ‘user-friendly’ product with mentorship from Prof. Williams Ofosu, current Head of Department of Food Science and Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi-Ghana.

She said that her affection for the discipline, she grew further at St Louis Senior High School, where she studied General Science and featured in the National Maths and Science quiz competitions as a contestant.

After high school, she opted for Bachelor of Science (BSc) Biochemistry at KNUST which she loved to do because of the diverse areas the course could be applied.  

“I loved Biology and Chemistry and came top in my class in high school on many occasions so I knew I had to do something relating to these subjects.

“My tutor [in high school] had explained what Biochemistry was all about and because I wanted to work in industry, I thought I needed a course that would help me get there,” she said.

Further studies

At KNUST, Dr. Mensah participated in several trade and technology exhibitions organised by her department and later became chair of the Organising Committee in her final year and was subsequently appointed a Teaching Assistant.

During her undergraduate studies, she again took up short Diploma Courses in Marketing and Customer Service to properly position herself for future endeavours.

Nonetheless, she admitted that the desire to pursue a Master of Philosophy (Mphil) in Clinical/Nutritional Biochemistry was nearly impossible, but for the financial intervention of Prof. Victoria Dzogberfia of the KNUST Biochemistry Department who absorbed her fees.

By dint of hard work, she was employed as a Research Assistant at KNUST and continued to develop her teaching skills before securing another teaching position at Yaa Asantewaa Senior High School, where she spent about four years teaching General Science and Biology.

In 2015, she gained employment as a lecturer at the Department of Medical Biochemistry at the University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry where she had served for the past seven years. In the same year, Dr Mensah was offered a Fellowship by the West Africa Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogen (WACCBIP), Legon.

Reaching the peak of the educational ladder, she noted, came with financial hurdles, sacrifices and commitment as she had to juggle family duties with research and academic work.

All the same, she praised WACCBIP for funding her research and studies as well as a host of mentors who made her dream of becoming a scientist come true, especially, Dr. Jonathan Adjimani of WACCBIP and the Department of Biochemistry who stirred her interest in Nutraceuticals.

Research

Dr Mensah is interested in Nutrigenomics and Nutraceuticals (substances that are used as food but bring about improvement in the quality of life and health).

In her PhD research, she sought to find particles in food that could be used in the treatment of tuberculosis and discovered that a compound found in the spice known as ‘rosemary’ could prevent the growth of the organism which causes tuberculosis.

Soon to be certified as Lactation Consultant, she is again on another journey of discovery that could most likely impact the lives of women positively.

“Now, my focus is discovering particles in food that can be used to enhance lactation in females as well as heal diseases that are related to the breast,” she said.

Explaining the essence of healthy nutrition in the general wellbeing of humans, she emphasised her commitment to impacting students with her in-depth scientific expertise.

The mother of three advises women to set clear and achievable goals. “Until you get there, you have to keep pushing. If you do not have any goal, you may have the perseverance but it would be like you are reaching out for nothing,” she said.

She insists that girls must not give up on science-related programmes as their determination would eventually pay off. “Build networks and don’t burn bridges,” she stressed.

Other Engagement

Dr Mensah is an entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer at Hearty Nutrition Africa, an entity that deals in lactation and breastfeeding products. She again runs ‘Kyemen Baby Online’, a fast growing online shop that deals in baby and mothercare products with a showroom at Adentan Frafraha with over 20 employees.

She is a member of Sasaabi Baptist Church where she runs a Good News Club for the children in the community. “There, I gather the children, feed them and then teach them to read the Bible,” she said.

She is married to Rev Amoako Kyei-Mensah to whom she is most grateful as well as other well-meaning individuals for “contributing significantly” to her educational journey.

By Ernest Nutsugah