Accra: The African Science Academy (ASA), an all-girls advanced-level school specializing in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), has celebrated the graduation of its ninth cohort in Accra. This year's ceremony honored 50 outstanding students from 13 African countries who completed their studies in 2025.
According to Ghana News Agency, the graduating class included students from Lesotho, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Togo, Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, and Ghana, the host country. Founded in 2016 by the African Gifted Foundation, ASA is a premier boarding school dedicated to nurturing young African women with exceptional potential in STEM by providing rigorous training to prepare them for leadership roles in scientific research and innovation.
Dr. Tom Ilube, Chair of the African Gifted Foundation and Founder of ASA, CBE, urged the graduates to spearhead scientific advancements across the continent. He emphasized that Africa's future depends on their brilliance and determination to maximize its resources and alleviate poverty. "You have no idea what you can achieve until you step into this sort of opportunity and unleash your ability," he said, encouraging them to be good ambassadors and innovators.
Madam Harriet Thompson, the outgoing British High Commissioner to Ghana, commended the young graduates for their ability to excel in a male-dominated field. With Africa estimated to need about two million STEM professionals to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, she urged them to capitalize on the opportunity to innovate and be changemakers.
Ms. Gifty Ghansah, Head Teacher of ASA, shared her experience, highlighting the growth of the academy from its initial 25 students to 50 this year. She expressed hope to double this number soon with the relocation to a new campus under construction in the Eastern Region. She remarked that the 2025 cohort, dubbed 'Bellaatrix,' was particularly special for their curiosity and willingness to be challenged.
In terms of student recruitment, ASA implements a rigorous five-stage process, starting with a call for volunteers in October and concluding with interviews by May. The process includes visits, applications, examinations, and interviews to identify high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds.
In addition to STEM education, ASA offers extracurricular activities in robotics and computer programming, encouraging students to apply their knowledge to real-life problems. The 2025 cohort launched two innovative programs, including 'Farmer Aid,' designed to assist farmers in monitoring animal health with sensor-equipped gates.
The academy maintains a structured alumni system to track graduates' progress in higher education. During the ceremony, alumni shared goodwill messages with the new graduates from prestigious universities worldwide.
