Letitia Eva Takyibea Obeng (born 10 January 1925) is a Ghanaian scientist born at Anum in the Eastern Region and was the first Ghanaian woman to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in science, as well as the first to be awarded a doctorate in science. She is described as “the grandmother of female scientists in Ghana”.

Letitia Obeng holds a Ph.D. in public health and water resources engineering from Imperial College, University of London. She was Chair of the Global Water Partnership (an international network of over 2800 organizations in some 160 countries supported by 13 Regional and over 80 Country Water Partnerships), from January 1, 2008 to December, 31 2012. Letitia has extensive experience in water and sanitation service delivery. She spent many years, working with sector ministries and communities, on policies, strategies, project preparation, implementation and evaluation while partnering with other aid assistance groups and organizations. During the 25 years she spent at the World Bank, Letitia also worked on or was responsible for sustainable development areas such as water resource management, agriculture and rural development social/community development, environment, environmental health, waste management, urban development and growing capacity, Letitia held managerial and director positions in Africa, Middle East and North Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean and at the Corporate Level as Director, Office of the President while at the World Bank.

She was the first woman to be elected as the President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.

  • Evangelism in Ghana — The Presbyterian Church of Ghana: 1942 – 1954

    First published in Twi in 1965

    Author’s note about the Book

    This book is the translation of an account of the last 12 years of the work of my father, the Rev. Emmanuel Victor Asihene in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.

    It refers to his work as the First Evangelist Minister appointed by the Church at a critical time in its history. He wrote the book deliberately in Twi to make the story of the Evangelism Mission that he undertook readily accessible to all members of the Church.

    He was grateful to be assigned to carry out the Mission of Evangelism. In his own words, he explains:

    “On the day of my ordination in 1960, this verse, ‘I will tell of thy name to my brethren; in the midst of the congregation, I shall praise you,’ Psalm 22, verse 22 was my major vow and promise. With great joy therefore, I thank God that I have been chosen and given the chance to spread the word of the Lord, through Evangelism, here , in my own land, and among my own people.”

    At the time of his appointment, he had no doubt that “what was needed most was the grace and guidance of God and a great infusion with a personal spiritual strength.”

    The journeys that Rev. Asihene made, most of them on foot, to distant areas of the country were extensive — as can be seen from the list of places that he visited.

    Many of the difficult-to-read areas where he took the message of God are, even today, not readily identified on the map of Ghana. Accounts of his easy engagements with Church members, non-Christians and even with fetish priests are as fascinating as the return of backsliders, by the grace of God, into the Church.

    When I received and read my signed copy of the book 47 years ago in 1965, I knew that I would one day translate this unique record of extensive Evangelism by a local member of the Presbyterian Church in our own country, from Twi into a wider read language. I am glad and I consider it a great honour that I have been able to translate, into English, this important piece of history of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.

    During this 125th Anniversary of his birth, this Translation of this book also marks the Dedication of the commemorative building, “The Rev. E.V. Asihene Quiet Room” at the Anum Presbyterian Secondary School, where he was Headmaster, about 90 years ago.

    — Letitia Eva Obeng (nee Asihene), January 2012

  • Proceedings of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences & The J.B. Danquah Memorial Lecture, Series 3 (Volume VIII, 1970)

    Proceedings, 1970. This issue contains the third series of the J.B. Danquah Memorial Lectures delivered by R.K.A. Gardiner in 1970.

    Contents

    The Role of Educated Persons in Ghana Society – R.K.A. Gardiner (The J.B. Danquah Memorial Lecture, Series 3)

    Law Reform in Ghana in the 1970s – Justice N.A. Ollennu

    Africa and the European Economic Community – Professor J.C. de Graft-Johnson

    The Dilemma of the Scientist – Professor D.A. Bekoe

    The Intellectual and the Meeting of Disciplines – Dr. Letitia E. Obeng

    The Creative Arts and the Community – Professor J.H. Nketia

    Faith and Reason – Professor K.A. Dickson

    Some Concepts of Medical Education in Ghana – Professor C.O. Easmon

    Training and Employment of Technicians in Ghana – J.G. O’Barka Torto

    Technology and Culture – Professor K.E. de Graft-Johnson

    Some Aspects of Agricultural Research in Ghana – Professor Kankam Twum-Barima

    Social and Educational Factors Relevant to Agricultural Progress in Ghana – S. La-Anyare

    Clinical Research in the Ghana Medical School – Professor E.A. Badoe

    The State of Research in Applied Genetics in Ghana – Professor Ebenezer Laing

  • Proceedings of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (Volume V, 1967)

    Proceedings, 1967.

    Contents

    A Message from His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, Patron of the Academy of Arts and Sciences

    Seventh Anniversary Dinner Address – Professor E.A. Boateng

    Towards a National Science Policy – Professor D.A. Bekoe

    The New University of Science and Technology in Developing Countries – Professor Kankam Twum-Barima

    The Role of the Humanities in a Developing Country – Professor A.A. Kwapong

    International Co-operation in Hydrology – Professor A. Volker

    The Structure of Some Mitragyna Alkaloids – Professor A.N. Tackie

    Oviposition and Breeding Habits of the Simulidae in Relation to Control Practices – Dr. Leticia E. Obeng

  • Proceedings of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (Volume III, 1965)

    Proceedings, 1965. This issue contains the first series of the J.B. Danquah Memorial Lectures delivered by Justice W.B. van Lare in February 1968.

    Contents

    Address by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah at the Academy of Arts and Sciences Dinner on Saturday, 30th November 1963

    Science in the Service of Agriculture – Sir William Slater

    New Frontiers in Geography – Professor E.A. Boateng

    Science and Social Progress – Professor A.N. May

    The Importance of Environmental Sanitation in the Development of Low-Cost Housing Schemes – Mr. E. Lartey

    Inermicapsifer Guineensis Graham (1968), A Review and Redescription – Dr. Leticia E. Obeng

    Aspects of the Biosynthesis of Phenolic and Related Compounds – Professor F.G. Torto

  • The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences: A Historical Perspective

    Published in 2009, during the Golden Jubilee year of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, this book presents a comprehensive account of the Academy’s activities in its first fifty years.

    The author was elected Vice President of the Science Section of the Academy in 1996 and, in 2006, she became the first female President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.

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