Her Excellency Prof. Mrs. Esi Awuah is the Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to the Swiss Confederation. As a distinguished academic and environmental scientist, Prof. Mrs. Awuah brings over three decades of leadership, research, and service in the area of environmental health, sanitation, and higher education.

Amb. Prof. Mrs. Awuah is a Professor of Environmental Health and Sanitation who has had a remarkable academic career at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). She served as Head of the Centre of Environment and Technology at the Institute of Science and Technology for Africa (2004–2006), Head of the Civil Engineering Department (2006–2008), and Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Geomatic Engineering (2008–2010). She was also the Foundation Vice-Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (2012–2016).

Amb. Prof. Mrs. Awuah has led and collaborated on major international research projects, including the EU-funded SWITCH Project, the Wellcome Trust SNOWS Project, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation SaniUP Project, spanning multiple countries across Africa, Europe, and Asia.

She has also served on numerous advisory boards, including the International Foundation of Science (IFS), WaterAid Ghana, and the World Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC). Additionally, she was Chairperson of the Environment and Infrastructure Committee of Ghana’s National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).

Amb. Prof. Mrs. Awuah has been affiliated with several professional bodies including the Organization of Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), the World Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), and the Africa Sanitation ‘Think Tank’.

Amb. Prof. Awuah’s outstanding contributions to science, engineering, and education have earned her numerous national and international accolades, including:

· UNESCO Mondialogo Award (2007) for innovative research in engineering.

· Best Research Award (Silver) for Environment, Water and Sanitation, National Science Congress, Ghana (2011).

· Woman of Excellence Award (2015).

· Prestigious Officer of the Order of the Volta (2016)

· Lifetime Achievement Awards (2018, 2024).

Amb. Prof. Mrs. Awuah obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Science from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science from the State University of New York (SUNY), Syracuse, USA. She earned her Ph.D. in Wastewater Treatment (Sanitary Engineering) from UNESCO-IHE, Delft, the Netherlands.

Passionate about inclusive development, Prof. Awuah has been a relentless advocate for women empowerment, science education, and grassroot environmental outreach, working with marginalized communities and mentoring the next generation of female scientists and engineers.

Amb. Prof. Mrs. Esi Awuah is married to Prof. Richard Tuyee Awuah, a plant pathologist, with two sons. In her leisure time, she enjoys walking and creating music.