In traditionally male-dominated industries such as mining and engineering, Ghanaian women like Dr. Catherine Kuupol-Kuutor are steadily defying stereotypes and rewriting long‑held narratives.
Her reflections on this journey were shared during an interview with Asaase Radio on Tuesday as part of the Personality Profile segment of the Asaase Breakfast Show, monitored by Kumasi Mail where she spoke candidly about leadership, resilience and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.
Globally, mining and engineering have long been tough terrains for women to navigate. Yet increasingly, determined and resilient professionals are not only entering these fields but excelling at the highest levels.
Dr Kuupol-Kuutor’s career trajectory forms part of this broader movement, underscoring the gradual but significant progress being made toward gender equity in the workplace.
In her story, one sees the blend of deep technical expertise, managerial acumen and inspiration for young women aspiring to careers in STEM fields where female representation has often been limited.
When she was adjudged Mining Personality of the Year at the 11th Ghana Mining Industry Awards last week, the honour marked a historic milestone.
Dr Kuupol-Kuutor became the first woman to win the prestigious award, a recognition that celebrated not only individual excellence but also a breakthrough moment for Ghana’s mining industry.
“I was truly humbled by the recognition,” she said on the Asaase Breakfast Show. “Being acknowledged among my peers in the industry was overwhelming. It came with a lot of emotions.”
Born in Fielmuo, a village near Nandom in the Upper West Region, Dr Kuupol-Kuutor’s journey began far from the corridors of corporate leadership. She lost her father at the age of three and grew up as the youngest of seven children in a household where resources were limited.
Her mother, who had no formal education, relied on petty trading—brewing pito, making koose and dawadawa—to support the family.
“Though we were poor, my mother was very determined to educate us,” she recalled during the interview. “Education was preached to us as the only way we could become better in life.”
Her early education took her from Chebogo Primary School to Wenchi Anglican Primary School, and later to Wenchi L/A Model School, where she spent nine years from primary through junior secondary school.
She proceeded to OLA Girls’ Senior Secondary School, Kenyase, in the then Brong Ahafo Region.
It was at Wenchi Model School that a class teacher, Mr Adomako, made a remark that would leave a lasting impression on her. He suggested she change her baptismal name from Katerina to Catherine, predicting she would become a prominent person in future. “At the time, I didn’t think much of it,” she said. “But later in life, I realised he truly saw ahead.”
A highly competitive academic environment shaped her discipline and drive for excellence. “You could be first today and fourth the next,” she explained on Asaase Radio. “It taught me to stay focused and always aim for the top.”
Her path into mining was not straightforward. She initially gained admission to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to study Physics, but made the bold decision to decline the programme after honest self‑reflection and counselling from relatives.
“Passing physics didn’t mean I was good at it,” she said. “I needed to be honest with myself about my strengths.”
She subsequently enrolled in Minerals Engineering at the KNUST School of Mines, a decision she describes as life‑changing. She completed a Diploma in Minerals Engineering, later earning a Master of Science in Minerals Engineering from the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, in 2011, and eventually a PhD in Mineral Engineering from the same institution.
Dr Kuupol-Kuutor launched her professional career at Golden Star Wassa Mine in the Western Region, where she worked from 2004 to 2013, rising to the position of Senior Metallurgical Plant Supervisor.
The period provided hands‑on exposure to plant commissioning, laboratory work, shift supervision and team leadership. “Someone identified my potential early on and deliberately invested in my development,” she noted. “That intentional training gave me a solid foundation.”
In 2013, she joined Gold Fields Ghana as a Metallurgical Superintendent, and by 2015 she had been promoted to Unit Manager. Two years later, in 2017, Gold Fields West Africa appointed her as the first female Metallurgical Manager at its Damang Mine—the first time in the company’s 25‑year history that a woman held the role.
Her consistent rise continued. Prior to her latest appointment, she also became the first female Metallurgical Manager of the Tarkwa Mine, with oversight responsibility for Damang. In May 2024, she made history again when she was appointed Mine Manager of Gold Fields Tarkwa, becoming the first woman in Ghana to assume that position. Gold Fields described the appointment as “a significant step for gender equity and inclusion.”
“I have never been promoted without going through an interview,” she emphasised during the Personality Profile segment. “That gives me fulfilment because it means I was tested and selected based on competence and potential.”
Her leadership has been widely praised for driving operational excellence. At Gold Fields Ghana, she has led business improvement initiatives that increased gold recovery, improved processing efficiencies and reduced costs.
She also oversaw the optimisation of Damang mill throughput from 4.2 to 4.8 metric tonnes, while Tarkwa achieved a throughput capacity of 14.1 metric tonnes in 2023.
Dr Kuupol-Kuutor describes her leadership philosophy as one that balances care with accountability. She prioritises team building, inclusion and innovation, encouraging colleagues to contribute ideas. “I don’t just greet and pass,” she said. “I want to know how people are doing, because my team is my strength.”
Safety, she added, remains non‑negotiable. “You cannot compromise safety for production,” she said. “Unsafe operations ultimately reduce productivity and returns.”
Beyond the mine, she is deeply committed to mentoring and advancing women in STEM. Since 2019, she has partnered with UMaT to institute The Catherine Kuupol-Kuutor Award, which recognises outstanding graduating students particularly female students in Minerals Engineering.
“Mentoring is a way of building supportive networks,” she said. “Women in mining face unique challenges, and support makes a real difference.”
Her contributions have attracted several accolades. In 2020, she was named Female Mining Professional of the Year at the Ghana Mining Industry Awards organised by the Ghana Chamber of Mines.
In 2021, she received both the WIMEA Personality of the Year Award and the Exemplary Leadership Award (Mining) at the Women in Mining and Energy Awards.
Dr Kuupol-Kuutor is a member of the Ghana Institution of Engineers, the West Africa Institute of Mining, Women in Mining Ghana, and Ladies in Mining and Allied Professions.
Asked on Asaase Radio how she hopes to be remembered, her answer was rooted in substance rather than symbolism. “I want to be remembered for what I’ve done in the industry the barriers I’ve broken, my competence and the path I helped create for other women,” she said. “Not because I am a woman, but because I was capable.”
In an industry historically defined by hard hats and hardened norms, Dr Catherine Kuupol-Kuutor’s story shared on the Asaase Breakfast Show stands as powerful evidence that excellence, preparation and belief can redefine boundaries and open doors for generations to come.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
