The family of 88-year-old former Member of the Council of State and former member of erstwhile Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), Dr Mary Grant, have confirmed her death.
Dr Grant, according to the family, passed away on the afternoon of Sunday, September 18, 2016 at the 37 Military Hospital, myjoyonline reported.
Dr. Mary Grant, the first product of Wesley Girls High School to become a medical doctor, made her political debut when she was appointed Deputy PNDC Secretary for Health in 1985.Â
During this time, she played a critical role in ensuring the welfare of all categories of health workers.
Photo: Dr Grant flanked by the President Mahama and Vice President Amissah-Authur
With the inauguration of the Fourth Republic, she was appointed to the Council of State, becoming the first female member a twenty-five member advisory body to the President. At the same time she was the Chairperson of the National Council on Women and Development.
In 1997 she was re-elected for another four-year term as a Member of the Council of State.
She has led Ghana’s delegation to many international conferences including World Health Organisation (WHO) General Assemblies in Geneva, WHO Regional Conferences in Africa, World Bank Meeting in Africa Health, Cairo Conference on Population and Development among others.
She was among Ghana’s delegation to the Beijing Conference on Women’s Rights.
At the 39th Annual General Conference in 1997, the Ghana Medical Association awarded her a Certificate of Honour for her concern for welfare of doctors.
She received a State award in the same year for her “wise and forthright counsel as a member of the Council of Stateâ€.
She left behind six children -- two of her own and four adopted -- and four grandsons.