Letitia Obeng

Letitia Obeng was born at Anum in the Eastern Region on 10 January 1925. She attended a primary school in Abetifi, Kwahu and a middle school in Kyebi. Between 1939 and 1946, she had her secondary school education at Achimota College. While at school she took the London University International Examination to continue her education, courtesy of a government scholarship at the University of Birmingham (1948–1952), where she was the only African female student on the Edgbaston campus.[3] She graduated from the university with a degree in Zoology.[4] In her autobiography, she describes her experience of coming to study in the United Kingdom in the post-war years, including the prejudices she faced.[3]

Obeng launched her first book -Anthology of a Lifetime in July 2019.[12] It is a selection from the distinguished scientist's talks, speeches, writings and publications produced during the last 60 years.[13]

Letitia Obeng's research and publication focus on the environment, health and science education particularly in Africa. Her doctoral research investigated the aquatic stages of the Simuliidae identified as a major transmitter of the parasite for river blindness. Related to this research are her articles titled “Life-history and population studies on the Simuliidae of North Wales”[14] and “The identification of the aquatic stages of the British Simuliidae”.[15] In a paper titled "Environmental of Impacts of Four African Impoundments”,[16] Dr. Obeng considers the environmental effects of four African dams: Lake Volta, Lake Kariba, Lake Kainji and Lake Nasser. Some of her other research and publications include:

• The helminth fauna of rodents of the sub-family Murinae in Ghana. (1965)
• Man-made lakes (1969).
• Wildlife in the Volta Basin. Man-made Lakes (1969); co-authored with Asibey, E. O. A.
• Volta Lake: Physical and biological aspects (1973)
• Should dams be built? The Volta Lake example (1977)
• Too Much or Too Little (1975)
• Starvation or Bilharzia? a rural development dilemma (1978)
• Man's impact on tropical rivers (1981)
• Progress of Science in Africa—in Tradition, Culture and Religion (1986)
• The right to health in tropical agriculture (1992)

Obeng was also the author of Obeng, Letitia E. (1997). Parasites, the Sly and Sneaky Enemies inside You. ISBN 978-9988010171., a book written mainly for a non-scientific audience. Besides her science-related publications, Letitia Obeng is also the author of Obeng, Letitia Eva (2008). A Silent Heritage: an Autobiography. ISBN 9789988098834.

Obeng was the sister of the late Madam Theodosia Okoh, the designer of the Ghana flag.[17] Her father, Very Reverend E.V. Asihene Anad, was the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and her mother's name was Dora Asihene. She was married to George A. Obeng who died in 1959. They had three kids (two boys and a girl).[2][3] The British Organizational theorists, professor and author Edward David Asihene "Eddie" Obeng (born 1959) is one of Letitia Obeng's children.

Obeng died on 23 March 2023, at the age of 98.[18]

From 1992 to 1993, Obeng was a Distinguished International Visitor fellow at Radcliff College. In 1997, she received the CSIR Award for Distinguished Career and Service to Science and Technology, the first female to receive such an award. Additionally, the CSIR Laboratory (known as The Letitia Obeng Block) was named after her in 1997.[19] Letitia Obeng received Ghana's highest national award, Order of the Star of Ghana in 2006. In 2017, she received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from KNUST.[20]