Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann, Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences at the University of Ghana, has been inducted as an International Fellow of the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering, becoming the first Ghanaian to attain the honour since the Academy’s establishment in 1976.
The ceremony, held in London, welcomed her into a select group of nine International Fellows elected worldwide for 2025 and positioned her as the only Ghanaian among 74 new Fellows announced this year.
Her recognition highlights decades of leadership in biomedical engineering, including her role in founding the University of Ghana’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and helping to establish several pioneering programmes in health and technology fields.
Her work in designing affordable medical technologies and advancing STEM education across Africa has had significant impact, particularly in underserved communities.
Beyond academia, Professor Kaufmann is widely known for hosting the National Science and Maths Quiz and for her efforts to expand STEM opportunities for young people through the Elsie Effah Kaufmann Foundation.
At the induction ceremony, she signed the Academy’s historic roll book alongside leading global engineers, marking a symbolic milestone for Ghanaian and African engineering.
The University of Ghana has lauded the achievement as a reflection of the institution’s growing global influence and a powerful affirmation of African excellence in science, technology and innovation.
