Aba Andam

Professor Aba A. Bentil Andam (born 1948) is a Ghanaian particle physicist who was President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences from 2017 to 2019. She is the first Ghanaian female physicist.

Early life and education Aba A. Bentil Andam was born in Ghana in 1948 in Ajumako Kokoben. She had her secondary education at Mfantsiman Senior High School. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana (1969-1973),⁣ where she majored in physics and minored in mathematics. She sought further education in Britain where she earned a master's degree from the University of Birmingham (1976-1977)

Career In 1986, she became a chartered physicist and full member of the Institute of Physics. Andam was interested in determining how much radiation from radon Ghanaians were exposed to, and how she can reduce radon radiation exposure. She is also interested in radiation-based safety measures, such as working out a safety standard for X-ray scans. Andam is passionate about sharing her love of science with young women and encouraging them to take up science.

Since September 2019, she has held the position of President at the Ghana Institute of Physics. She has also served as a member of the Commission on Physics and Development (C13) of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) since 2018. Additionally, she has been a member of the Committee on the proposed African Light Source since 2020. In her extensive career, she has held key roles such as Foundation Chairman for the Council of the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana (2012-2015), and Foundation Chairman for the Council of Koforidua Polytechnic, Ghana (1997-2002). Furthermore, she has contributed significantly as a member of the Governing Board of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (1997-2001, then 2002-2008). She is also recognized as a Foundation Member of the First IUPAP Working Group on Women in Physics and has led the Ghana Team of the IUPAP Conferences on Women in Physics to date.

Personal life She was married to Professor Kwesi Akwansah Andam who was a Civil Engineer, an academician and a former Vice Chancellor. They had four children.