Meet Nuclear Engineer — Ekua Mensimah

Saturday, March 27, 2010 (The Mirror Pg 3)

By Rebecca Kwei
For many girls, the sciences are a no-go area, but not Ekua Mensimah, the first female to have graduated with a Master of Philosophy in Nuclear Engineering from the Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Ekua, who graduated on March 13, 2010, says she has always loved science subjects and excelled in them as well.
“There is a misconception that science is difficult, but it is not as difficult as people think. It’s actually fun! ” she told The Mirror in an interview.
It was recently announced that a GH¢4 million Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme for students at the secondary level will be instituted at the start of the 2010/11 academic year.
The scheme is to stimulate students to take up programmes in the field of maths and science and make science and technology the critical drivers of the country’s socio-economic development.
Ekua is among the second batch of students of the Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences who offered Nuclear Engineering and she was the only female with nine males. The first batch comprised seven males.
Loving science is manifested in the subject choices petite 28-year-old Ekua has made till now. Right after her primary and junior high school education at the St Peter’s Educational Centre, Kumasi, she continued at the Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Secondary School in Kumasi where she studied science — Physics, Elective Maths, Chemistry and Biology.
Having passed the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination with flying colours, she enrolled at the Kumasi Polytechnic to pursue a course in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
However, she was at the polytechnic for only a semester and left for the University of Cape Coast to pursue a course in the Physical Sciences which comprises Chemistry, Maths and Physics. She majored in Physics and graduated with a BSc in Physics in 2006.
“I majored in Physics because I enjoy Physics and I am very comfortable in it,” she said.
In 2007, while doing her national service at the Ghana Atomic Energy, she enrolled for an evening course at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) for a diploma course in Database Administration.
“I also have an interest in computers and I wanted to have a lot of options aside the Physics when applying for job,” she explained.
Immediately after her national service and her diploma course in Database Administration, Ekua said she was advised to apply for the MPhil in Nuclear Engineering.
Ekua’s life seems to be one of pursuing one academic course after another but she insists she is “no book worm but just adventurous. I have a social life”.
Why nuclear engineering? Ekua says nuclear energy is the next thing to make waves soon, especially in the area of electricity generation, and she wants to be part of the new trend.
She admitted that it has not been easy, especially while pursuing her MPhil in Nuclear Engineering.
“It was very challenging and I nearly dropped out in the first year but my mum encouraged me not to lose hope, since nothing comes easy. I am really excited and grateful to God for how far He has brought me. It was only by His grace and now I can enjoy the fruits of my labour,” she said.
Ekua is also grateful to her mum, Dorcas Amuquandoh of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), who she says single-handedly took care of her and her elder brother, Kwaku Okyere Manu Tawiah.
“I never lacked anything; my mum made sure of that, and I am very grateful and proud of her,” she added.
Now working as a Research Scientist with the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ekua says she hopes to expand her knowledge in nuclear engineering as the years go by, as well as pursue a PhD.
For girls who want to pursue science, Ekua says, “You just have to know where your interest lies and pursue it. Science is not difficult and there are more opportunities in the science field. Above all, you must seek the grace of God.”
Is Ekua attached? She answers with a definite “Yes”, although she would not mention the name of the man with whom she says she will very soon be walking down the aisle.
When she is not studying, Ekua loves to read, write poems or watch movies.