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Introduction to Africa Health Public Policy
Ashesi University, University of Toronto, University of Toronto Mississauga, University of Toronto Scarborough

Ashesi University, University of Toronto, University of Toronto Mississauga, University of Toronto Scarborough

Master Scholar
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
I am Emmanuella Seyram Avornyoh from Ghana. I graduated from the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where I was introduced to the broader discipline of Biological Sciences. Following my B.Sc., I served my mandatory National Service at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), where my interest in Public Health-related research was stimulated.
Through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars program, my goal of pursuing further studies has become a reality. I am currently taking an MPH in environmental health at U of T which completely aligns with my long-term career ambition of becoming a professor and a researcher in the field.
My heartfelt gratitude goes to Mastercard and the University of Toronto for their generosity in admitting and funding my colleagues and me. I haven’t done much with the program yet, but based on the quality of the tuition, it already appears to be highly beneficial. I am convinced that the time I am investing in this program will help me become an innovator in the field of environmental health.

Master Scholar
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Canada
One of the most enriching experiences was the opportunity to engage in a vibrant and diverse academic community.
The scholarship not only provided financial support but also opened doors to various academic and extracurricular activities that have enhanced my experience at the University. Networking opportunities with fellow scholars and professors allowed me to connect with leading experts in my discipline and gain insights into the latest developments in the field. These interactions were invaluable for both my academic and professional growth.

Finance Manager, Africa Health Collaborative
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Emmanuel Ebo Ocran is the Finance Manager of the Health Collaborative.
He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana and an alumnus of KNUST. He is currently a Senior Accountant and Head of the University Central Payroll. He has over 16 years of experience in programming of accounting information systems and internet of things (IOT), budgeting and financial management. Emmanuel has served as Head of University Budget. Emmanuel has been engaged (proposal writing, budgeting through to implementation) in all Mastercard Foundation programs at KNUST since 2013 (Scholars Program, Advancing health care in Africa and the E-learning initiatives) as the Finance Manager.
Program Manager, Africa Health Collaborative
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Eva Boakye-Yiadom, Project Manager of the Mastercard Foundation Africa Health Collaborative, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Eva has great expertise in administration, audit, accounting, and project management. Eva is a PhD candidate at the KNUST School of Business. She holds an MSc in Accounting and Finance from Christian Service University, Kumasi Ghana, Masters in Business Administration, from the Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom and Bachelor of Management Studies from KNUST.

Provost (Chief Academic Officer/Pro Vice Chancellor) at Ashesi University
Ashesi University

Ghana
Angela Owusu-Ansah brings more than thirty years of academic and administrative experience in the United States and Ghana, West Africa, to her current role as Provost of Ashesi University. A member of the Phi Kappa Phi, a community of top scholars and professionals, she seeks to build an enduring legacy for future generations. She is a strong advocate for higher education quality serving on national university accreditation agency Boards such as the Ghana Tertiary Education Council (GTEC) and serving 18 years on the United States Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP, formerly NCATE).
As an education leader, Angela served as Elon University’s Associate Dean of the School of
Education and Associate Dean of Access and Success, Samford University’s Assistant Dean of Education Assessment, and currently, Ashesi University’s Provost. She leverages innovative approaches, such as the scholarship of teaching and learning to improve student learning, the science of learning for faculty optimization of instruction, and research capacity building to improve higher education experiences and outcomes. She served on one of the ten Regional Education Laboratories’ Board in the United States to contribute to policy direction and implementation to support research in education.
Angela fosters entrepreneurial and innovative thinking for improving Africa by building spaces for students’ problem solving, integrating southern theory where feasible, and contributing to the development of Africa’s first university ranking system designed for appreciative inquiry of Africa’s systematic growth. Her research interest is in impact evaluation and change in Africa’s higher education, specifically digitized higher education instruction, higher education teaching and learning as a science, intercultural understanding among African students, and African women in Higher Education leadership.

Former Pro Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor of Epidemiology & Global Health, Consultant Public Health Physician and Researcher.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Dr. Ellis Owusu-Dabo is a Consultant Public Health Physician, Teacher and Researcher.
As a Professor of Epidemiology and Global Health, his area of expertise is in Medical Epidemiology and applied public health technologies. As a teacher, he has trained undergraduate and postgraduate 2 students, as well as mentored young faculty at both local and international levels.
Ellis is a demonstrable astute university administrator and a research project management consultant. He is highly driven in his research interest area, mainly non-communicable diseases in low-income country settings. He also has considerable interest in population genomics of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Ellis has secured and managed multimillion United States dollar research grants from principal granting institutions such as the European Union, National Institutes of Health (NIH), The World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) as well as many bilateral organisations. He serves on several boards at both local and international levels, and has a massive network of individuals and organisations he works with. Dr Owusu-Dabo has published over 250 research articles in peer-reviewed journals. As Perelman International Scholar of the University of Pensylvannia School of Medicine, his passion is in building capacities of next generation scientists and health systems to help solve Africa’s health problems through scientific research collaborations.

Master Scholar
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Canada
My name is Isdora Bonaventure Msigwa. A Mastercard Foundation scholar pursuing a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto.
Being a Mastercard Foundation scholar in a renowned university has been an enriching experience that allowed me to explore my potential further and reach out for my dreams. As a graduate student, I have had a chance to partake in various programming and events that have enriched both my academic and social knowledge on numerous topics, such as cultural diversities, leadership, and more out-of-the-classroom knowledge that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I am making the most of this opportunity and look forward to realizing my hopes and dreams for the healthcare sector.

Master Scholar
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Canada
My most valued experience as a Mastercard Scholar at UofT has been the profound sense of family and community.
It’s a journey filled with thrilling and exciting moments, but it’s the heartfelt love and unwavering support from fellow scholars and the Mastercard administrators that I treasure the most. Knowing that we have each other’s backs, no matter the challenges we face, is truly amazing. This tight-knit community has made my scholar journey unforgettable, and I will forever be grateful for the genuine connections and camaraderie that define our experience here.

Master Scholar
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Canada
My name is Jessica Kumah from Ghana. The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship program at the University of Toronto, aligns perfectly with my newfound passion for environmental health. Thanks to this scholarship, I am in the process of realizing my purpose, and the MPH-Environmental Health program at the University of Toronto has exceeded my expectations. The comprehensive training that I am receiving has broadened my perspective and equipped me to address environmental health challenges. I am eager to give back to Africa and the world, using my knowledge and skills to tackle global environmental health issues.