Captain Solomon Quainoo flew the world's biggest aircraft to Accra
2018 has been a very eventful year for very Ghanaian. Wherever you may find yourself, there are definitely some things you did that you are proud of.
But as far as deeds go, there will always be greater deeds. So, since the year began, there have been some Ghanaians whose deeds deserve every commendation. These are people who achieved amazing things in the year under review, and their impacts were telling on everybody.
1. Nurse who delivered baby on a bus
One Ghanaian whose exploit was celebrated in 2018 is the midwife at the Kunkwa Health Centre who helped a pregnant woman successfully deliver her baby while on board a bus. Sophia Safia Sulemana was on board an Accra-Bolgatanga bus when the pregnant women complained of feeling pains. Upon realising that the woman was due for delivery, Ms. Sulemana used all her experience to ensure that both baby and mother came through safely.
She is reported to have used improvised polythene bags as gloves to receive the baby, got a blade from a passenger to cut the umbilical cord of the baby, and pulled out a string from a sack to tie the cord. She was subsequently honoured by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana (N&MC).
2. The NASA engineer who helped built a spacecraft to land on Mars
Ghanaian engineer Dr Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu has been widely praised after it emerged that he helped build NASA's latest spacecraft to land on Mars. The New York Times reports that the spacecraft is expected to study the Mars' underworld, listening for marsquakes and seeking clues about the dusty world’s formation.
Dr. Trebi-Ollennu is the team lead for InSight at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge, California, United States.
The Ghanaian designed the robotic arm, which will dig deep beneath the surface of the planet to see explore how it was formed.
3. Ghanaian doctor who saved life on KLM flight
Another Ghanaian who achieved great things in 2018 is Chief Superintendent Dr. Samuel Ofori who helped save the life of a passenger on board a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Accra.
The Ghanaian doctor teamed up with another German doctor, Prof. Manfred Spitznas, to save a lady who collapsed on board the flight. The two took their time to revive the passenger who was reportedly suffering from severe abdominal pains from the food she might have eaten
4. ICT teacher who improvised
ICT teacher Richard Akoto Appiah became an internet sensation when his exploits in using drawings on a black board to teach his students how use Microsoft Word went viral.
The 34-year-old who teaches at Betenase M/A Junior High School in the town of Sekyedomase posted photos of how he takes his pupils through ICT lessons on Facebook, leading to many reviews. With the photos going viral, international media firms like the CNN and BBC featured him as his story became known across the globe.
The teacher was also invited to attend this year’s Microsoft Education Exchange, after which he led a donation of computers and other leaning equipment to theBetenase M/A Junior High School.
5. Ghanaian pilot who flew World's biggest aircraft to Accra
Captain Solomon Quainoo showed Ghanaians everything is possible in life. He flew the biggest passenger aircraft in the world for the official commissioning of the new Terminal 3 at the Kotoka International Airport in the year, 2018.
Educated at the Koforidua Secondary Technical and the University of Ghana, his career spans about 14 years with seven and half of it with Emirates Airlines.
6. Ghanaian police officer wins UN female peacekeeping award Chief
Superintendent of Police, Mrs. Phyllis Ama Tebuah Osei is one Ghanaian who made her country proud in 2018. She was awarded by the United Nations Police Division of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations for her commitment and impart in policing.
According to the UN, her contributions to enhancing the protection of women and girls, as well as her initiatives to promote women rights in the host state police, embody the spirit of the Award and embrace the values of international policing.
