18 Facts About Susan Ofori-Atta

Susan Ofori-Atta was the first Ghanaian woman and fourth West African woman to earn a university degree.

Susan Ofori-Atta's contemporary was Matilda J Clerk, the second Ghanaian woman and fifth West African woman to become a physician, who was educated at Achimota and Edinburgh.

Susan Ofori-Atta was made an Honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Ghana for her work on malnutrition in children, and received the Royal Cross from Pope John Paul II when he visited Ghana in 1980, in recognition of her offering of free medical services at her clinic.

Susan Ofori-Atta helped to establish the Women's Society for Public Affairs and was a Foundation Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Susan Ofori-Atta's achievements were a symbol of inspiration to aspiring women physicians in Ghana.

Susan Ofori-Atta received her primary education at St Mary's Convent in Elmina around 1921 and enrolled at Achimota School in 1929 for her secondary education.

Susan Ofori-Atta was one of the pioneer students after the opening in 1927 of the college, where she was the Girls' School Prefect in her final year and sat for the Cambridge School Certificate.

Susan Ofori-Atta studied midwifery at Korle-Bu Midwifery Training School, graduating in 1935, and she had further training in midwifery in Scotland.

Susan Ofori-Atta further continued her education at Edinburgh University Medical School, where she obtained her MBChB degree in 1947.

Susan Ofori-Atta began her career as a midwife and then studied to become a pediatrician, making her the first female doctor in the Gold Coast.

Susan Ofori-Atta left the Princess Marie Louise Hospital to join the University of Ghana Medical School, where she was a founding member of the Paediatrics Department before starting her own private medical practice for women and children at her clinic, the Accra Clinic.

Susan Ofori-Atta was a Diplomate of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Susan Ofori-Atta was an advocate for women and children causes and opposed the Akan system of inheritance, advocating legislation to address the issue and give right to the spouses and children to inherit their deceased spouses and fathers who died intestate.

Susan Ofori-Atta's efforts led to the PNDC Intestate Succession Law promulgated in 1985.

Susan Ofori-Atta was a member of the 1969 Constituent Assembly which drafted the Constitution for the Second Republic of Ghana.

Susan Ofori-Atta was an active in the Catholic Church in Ghana, especially the Accra Diocese.

Susan Ofori-Atta was an executive member of the Federation of Association of Catholic Medical Doctors and a member of the Ghana Catholic Doctors Association.

Susan Ofori-Atta died of natural causes in July 1985 in the United Kingdom.