Abena Ofori
Clark University, Environmental Science and Policy
Home country: Ghana

I had my first degree education at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana where I obtained a BSc in Natural Resource Management in the year 2001. While at the university, I did an internship with two environmental NGOs - Ghana Wildlife Society and Nature Conservation Research Center. These positions gave me tremendous research skills such as how to conduct bird surveys and how to carry out baseline data collection of birds, small mammals, hippos, vegetation etc. Based on my remarkable performance, I was nominated by my research professor to go on an African Fellows conservation trip to the East Usambara Mountain in Tanzania where we carried out field research on birds. This trip was sponsored by Earthwatch Institute- an international NGO that supports scientific field research. After school I did a national service with the Environmental Protection Agency in Ghana as an environmental officer for a year (2001 -2002). At the EPA, some of my job responsibilities included carrying out educational outreach programs in high schools and local communities. Students and communities were enlightened on challenging global, regional and local environmental issues – climate change, natural resource destruction and desertification, water pollution, sanitation- and therefore the need to take necessary action to protect the natural resources. After national service I worked with Resolute Mining Limited, a gold mining company in Ghana for 3 years (2002 -2005) as a database officer. I was responsible for entry of all soil and drillholes data and I also did some data analysis for the company. Though my university education and previous position at EPA inculcated into me the need to conserve natural resources and protect the environment, I entered a company whose activities do not only destroy natural resources and the environment but more so impact negatively on the livelihoods of vulnerable people in the local communities where it operates. With such exposures in different environments, I began to ask questions about how natural resources could be used in a way that will leave both society and the natural environment in good condition. I also wanted to know more about how all members of society could benefit equally from the natural resources they are directly in contact with. With these questions in mind, I applied to Clark University to pursue a course in Environmental Science and Policy.