Mary Grant (politician)

Mary Grant (6 August 1928 – 18 September 2016)[2] was a Ghanaian physician and politician. She was Ghana's first Council of State member and also the first Wesley Girls High School alumna to be a medical doctor.[3] Grant was the third Ghanaian woman to qualify in medicine after Susan Ofoti-Atta (1947) and Matilda J. Clerk (1949). She was a distant relation of Paa Grant, who has been called "the father of Gold Coast politics".[4]

Mary Grant
Council of State Member
Minister of Education and Culture
In office
1991 – 1993[1]
Member of National Defence Council for General Affairs
In office
1989 – 2001[1]
Deputy Minister of Health
In office
1988 – 1989[1]
Personal details
Born(1928-08-06)6 August 1928
Died18 September 2016(2016-09-18) (aged 88)
37 Military Hospital, Accra, Ghana
NationalityGhanaian
Alma materWesley Girls High School

Education

Mary Grant had her secondary education from the Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast,[3] and went on to become the school's first alumna to qualify as a medical doctor after completing her training in the United Kingdom.[5]

Career

After working in the government health service as a medical officer, Mary Grant began her political career when she appointed Secretary of Health in 1985.[6] Grant held many positions, including Deputy Minister of Health and Member of the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC). She later became the Minister of Education and Culture and also a Member of Council of State.[7][8][9][10][11]

She led Ghana's delegation to many international conferences, including World Health Organisation (WHO) General Assemblies in Geneva and Regional Conferences in Africa, World Bank Meeting in Africa Health, Cairo Conference on Population and Development, and she was among Ghana's delegation to the World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995.[12]

Awards and honours

Grant received an award during the Maiden Women's Award ceremony.[13] At its 39th Annual General Conference in 1997, the Ghana Medical Association awarded her a Certificate of Honour in appreciation of "her concern for the welfare of doctors." In the same year, she received a State Award for her “wise and forthright counsel as a member of the Council of State”.[14]

Death and state funeral

She died aged 88, on the afternoon of 18 September 2016 at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra,[12] and was given a state funeral.[5]

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References
  1. "The Republic of Ghana (Female suffrage 1949/54) A number of territories administered by the British after World War II as a United Nations Trusteeship until gaining independence 1957 and becoming a republic in 1960". WORLDWIDE GUIDE TO WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  2. "Former member of Council of State Dr. Mary Grant is dead". GhanaWeb. Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  3. "Achievement of Past Students". Wesley Girls High School. Archived from the original on 1 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  4. Jonas Nyabor, "Mary Grant was 'a formidable woman' – Rawlings" Archived 2017-01-07 at the Wayback Machine, News Central, Citifmonline, 29 September 2016.
  5. Delali Adogla-Bessa, "Rawlings, Kufuor, Mahama, pay last respects to Mary Grant" Archived 2017-01-07 at the Wayback Machine, News Central, Citifmonline, 21 October 2016.
  6. "Former member of Council of State Dr Mary Grant dies at 88". Myjoyonline. Myjoyonline. Archived from the original on 2017-01-05. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  7. "Ghana: Mary Grant Against Marriage At 16". The Independent (Accra). allAfrica. 18 June 1998. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  8. Kofi, Yeboah (12 November 2007). "Cases of high blood pressure, diabetes go up - Pobee". Kofi Yeboah Stories. Archived from the original on 2016-10-13. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  9. "FRIMPONG-BOATENG COUNTS ON RAWLINGS PV OBENG, MARY GRANT… As Unique Trust boss endorses him". Modern Ghana. Ghanaian Chronicle. 23 February 2007. Archived from the original on 2017-01-07. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  10. "Mrs. Grant Launches Millennium Excellence Awards". GhanaWeb. 26 August 1999. Archived from the original on 2016-09-19. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  11. "The late President Mills buried". Ghana News Agency. Ghana News Agency. Archived from the original on 2016-09-16. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  12. "Ghana News - Former member of Council of State Dr Mary Grant dies at 88". Myjoyonline.com. 19 September 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  13. "Supporting quality healthcare and community projects, Saboba, Ghana". Saboba's Hope, Inc. Saboba's Hope Fullerton, Ca. Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  14. "Dr Mary Grant is dead". Pulse Gh. 2016-09-19. Retrieved 2020-05-06.


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