Female pioneer surgeon touts integrity, grit as key to success

By Kingsley Webora TANKEH

The first female paediatric surgeon in Ghana and academic, Prof. Afua Hasse, has touted intergrity and grit as the most pertinent qualities of an aspiring leader in any field, while imbuing young health professionals at the Leadership Symposium 2025.

The symposium was organised by the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra on the themes ‘Breaking Barriers: The Power of Female Leadership in Medicine’ and ‘Prescribing Change: Strategies for Rationale Drug Use’. It brought together physicians, surgeons, pharmacologists and alumni of the college from across the country to learn about leadership, especially in the medical field, and honour exceptional personalities for their contributions to the field.

Prof. Afua Hesse and Prof. David Ofori-Adjei, both academics, were honoured for their extraordinary contributions to their medical education and leadership. Both received the GCPS Outstanding National and Global Health Leadership Award at the ceremony.

Speaking at the event after receiving her plaque and citation, Prof. Afua Hesse said true leadership demands unwavering integrity, discipline and consistent excellence, especially for women forging paths in male-dominated fields.

While thanking the organisers for the recognition, Prof. Hasse reflected on her “amazing” yet challenging journey, including experiences abroad in New York and the hurdles of differing perspectives and communication. “You will encounter a challenge,” she said. “People are different… They are not used to what you are trying to get them to do. Communication [is key]… From A, you want to get to C. But if you are at A, you cannot jump to Z.”

Her gratitude for her support system, her husband, was palpably on her face. She acknowledged the crucial role others played in her success. She addressed the immense pressure and scrutiny faced by women entering into novel or male-dominated careers like her own. “You have to be disciplined. If you are not disciplined in any career, you will not go far. If your character is poor, you will not go far. If you don’t have integrity… you will not go far.”

She emphasised that dedication to quality work over complaints should be one’s hallmark if one wants to go far in life.  “All of these honest people should know you and trust you. They know this person will never tell me a lie. I can trust what they say.”

Prof. Hasse urged the young professionals to persevere through. “Keep doing it and do it well… People complain and they don’t do their work. You will be noticed. If promotion avenue comes up, you are the one they will think about.”

She maintained that consistent excellence and integrity make one unforgettable when opportunity knocks.

While acknowledging that there are “many different ways of achieving the end, which is success,” Prof. Hesse rooted sustainable success in these fundamental values of discipline, character and integrity.

An eminent clinical pharmacology professor and one of the awardees, Prof. David Ofori-Adjei, also inspired attendees, urging them to seize opportunities with genuine commitment and desire. “Don’t forget about your desire. That’s the first thing. And be able to genuinely commit to it,” he advised.

Encouraging the young professionals to focus on capability development, he briefly touched on regulatory challenges – the recent flooding of the country with synthetic foods and drugs, highlighting the complex environment future medical leaders must navigate.

He advised that students shouldn’t focus only on books, citing his professor’s wealth of knowledge acquired through interactions with people and exploring. “He took us to almost every fufu joint and nightclub in Accra. That gave me a different view of life,” he recounted.

However, as Prof. Hasse actively trains two new female paediatric surgeons in Ghana, her words carry the weight of lived experience, offering not just inspiration but a practical blueprint for leadership built on ethical foundation.

She underscored that Ghana’s medical future rests not only on technical skill but on cultivating leaders of character.

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