Ida Fynn-Thompson, the daughter of a school master, was born in Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana. She spent her childhood and school years in the quaint ancient town where she attended Holy Child School.

In 1962, she gained admission to the University of Ghana. After graduation, she worked with the Ghana Education Service, teaching at Accra High School and Accra Polytechnic where she was appointed Vice-Principal in 1978.

She joined the Inspectorate Division in 1984 and later became the Regional Chief Inspector of Schools for the Greater Accra region. A former member of the Ghana Country Working Group on the Teacher Management and Support Programme in Africa, she was also for several years the Chairperson of the Board of Governors of her alma mater.

A mother of three daughters and a son, she spends her time helping to raise her grandchildren.