We continue our series where we seek to trace the paths of some of West Africa's most talented individuals over the last thirty five years. What has happened to them? What contributions have they made? To the world at large? To their native West Africa? Is early academic achievement (for this will be our sole selector) a reliable predictor for later success? What differences can be identified in outcomes between the 'early' scholars (say before 2000) and the later scholars (after 2000). For example, are later scholars more likely to be working in their native country or region. What differences can be identified in outcomes between the different nationalities. For example, do the brightest Ghanaians achieve more success than the brightest Nigerians in later life? What do we mean by "success"? What professions have these individuals pursued? Have they worked predominantly in the STEM areas that development experts tell us are critical for developing countries or have their talents gone elsewhere? What about gender? What effect does it have on outcomes among this category? We hope to answer these and more questions during the course of the series.

As our selector we use the results of the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, school leaving examination. Since 1985, WAEC has awarded prizes to the top three candidates in this exam. We shall attempt to trace the progress of these individuals using only publicly available information. No doubt, in some cases, despite our best efforts we will be unable to identify individuals or we will misidentify individuals, but through careful examination of the available evidence we should be able to glean accurate enough information to be able to form a reasonable overall picture. We will remain open to correction by our readers throughout the series. The "VERIFICATION" entry for each listing below indicates the criteria used to determine, or at least infer, that the individual whose details we have pulled from the public (internet) record was indeed the individual of the same name who excelled in the WAEC examination. A first name and last name match is a prerequisite.

WAEC, of course, conducts examinations only in English-speaking West Africa, so this series is necessarily limited to these areas. Up to 1998 GCE 'A' and 'O' levels were the principal school-leaving examinations conducted by WAEC, and it appears the top three candidates were in most if not all years selected for award from the 'O' level list.  In 1998, a new examination, the WASSCE, was introduced and quickly replaced the earlier school-leaving examinations.

We continue with the the fifteen award winners between 1990 and 1994.

1990:


Alexander Mallet B. Eng, 1996, Univ. of Pennsylvania, USA. Masters, 2006, MIT, USA. Progressively increasing software engineering responsibilities over a 20-year period at two major US companies, Microsoft and Amazon. Currently Director of software development at Amazon. 1 research publication (Masters degree thesis) and 1 US patent. VERIFICATION: Detailed LinkedIn page.

Victoria Adanu  University of Ghana. Pediatrician, Nyaho Medical Center, Accra. VERIFICATION: Facebook page, School-leaving year, limited information

Jaqueline Yirerona. No information found


1991:


Salman Ahmad. No convincing match

Oheneba Ayewa Afrifa. Director, UK-based company, Afrifa Advisers UK Ltd. VERIFICATION: UK register of companies, middle name, birth year.

Dalton Coker. B. Sc. Computer Science, 2002, Brunel University, London, M. Sc. Health Informatics, Database software, 2007, City University, London. Data Manager, Imperial College 2013 -2018. Co-founder and sofware developer, Hippocratyx, health-care software developer - to Present. 1 joint peer-reviewed research publication, 1 U-tube video. VERIFICATION: Linked-in page.

1992:


Bessant Allen Parker. MD (MBChB) University of Ghana, 2004. MD Columbia University, 2009, MBA University of Chicago, 2013, Physician (Internal Medicine). From 2016, Chief Medical Officer, Aspirus Langlade Hospital, Wisconsin, USA. VERIFICATION: LinkedIn page, middle name, age, year and place of initial graduation

Samuel Osei Kofi Okoh. MD, University of Ghana, 2003, Internal Medicine, Nephrologist, private practice  in Hartsville, S. Carolina, USA

Edward K. Owusu-Ansah. B.Sc. Biochemistry, University of Ghana, Ph.D. Cell biology, UCLA, 2008, Post-doctoral studies, Harvard Medical School to 2014. To present - Assistant Professor of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeon. At least 15 joint, peer-reviewed leading-edge research publications on cell biology. VERIFICATION: Middle initial, career age, place of initial graduation

1993:


Anthony Kweku Agbadzi. (In US, Agadzi) B.A. Biology, 1999, Macalaster College, US. M.D. 2003, University of Minnesota. Opthalmology residency, UCLA to 2007. To present in private practice (Redwood Eye Center) in San Francisco area. 3 joint peer-reviewed professional publications. VERIFICATION: Middle name, study dates and career age, Accra birthplace (UCLA 2004 Visions report)

Alberta Tete-Lartey. B.A. Economics and Business, Agnes Scott College, USA. MBA, University of Pennsylvania, 2007. Assorted positions in management and finance to VP, Associated Bank, 2013 - 2017. Present - investor in venture capital business, San Francisco, USA. VERIFICATION: Name, study dates (2007 Univ of Penn commencement program) and career age, LinkedIn page, Ghana origin (mywomenmagazine.com).

Abraham Griffiths. No convincing match found

1994:


Nii Lartey Dodoo. B.S. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Economics, 2001, MIT. M. Eng. Elec Eng & Computer Science, 2002, MIT. MBA, Harvard Business School, 2009. Various software development positions to 2007. Planning, marketing and business management positions to 2015. To present - VP, Technology for San Francisco area startup, Upgrade, Inc. Two publications while at MIT (Masters thesis and one joint). VERIFICATION: Middle name, study dates and age, LinkedIn page lists Achimota School.

Philip Osafo-Kwarko. (On internet, Kwaako). B.Sc. Chemical Engineering and Economics, 2001, MIT (2000 MIT Travelling Fellowship). M. Phil. Development Studies, Oxford. Overseas Development Institute Fellow. PhD Public Policy, 2012 Harvard.  Economic and public policy assignments with The Brookings Institute, Mckinsey & Co. Director, Consolidated Bank of Ghana. Consultant and advisor to several African governments (Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria) and institutions. Circa 10 peer-reviewed publications, many with an African focus. One book, jointly authored. VERIFICATION: Full name, study dates and age, CBG web page, 2005 Financial Times webpage.

S. Selasie Mortoti. M.D. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Internship Howard University Hospital, USA, 2007-2008. Residency Howard University Hospital, USA, 2008-2010. Fellowship, Cardiovascular disease, Howard University Hospital, 2010-2013. Currently practicing in Arkansas, USA. One joint publication. VERIFICATION: Full name, study dates and age, US Medical registers, interesting talk he delivered on his experiences as an immigrant doctor in rural Arkansas and visa availability for foreign doctors wishing to emigrate to the USA

1990 - 1994 SUMMARY
(For nationality (WASSCE location), gender, and percent contributing to the written public record, figures are percentages of the total (15). For other categories, figures are percentages of the total identified in that category)

By Nationality:                                                                             Nigeria - 0%, Ghana - 87%, Sierra Leone - 6.5%, Gambia - 6.5%
By Gender:                                                                                    Male - 73%  Female - 27%
Percentage achieving at least first degree:                                 100% (11/11)
Attained first degree in West Africa:                                           45% (5/11)
Percentage working in Stem:                                                        75% (9/12)
Percentage currently living in West Africa:                                 9% (1/11)
Percentage whose career has been centered in West Africa:     4.5% (0.5/11)     * Half marks given for those who have spent significant time in West Africa as well as abroad 
Books published:                                                                            1, joint
Peer-reviewed research articles:                                                   >28, co-authored
Patents:                                                                                           1 US
Other professional articles:                                                            >6
Percent contributing to written public record                                47% (7/15)      *Book or article or patent