Oheneba Boakye Mensah

Ghanaian orthopedic surgeon who pioneered affordable prosthetics for amputees in Africa

Dr. Oheneba Boakye-Mensah is a Ghanaian orthopedic surgeon and innovator renowned for developing low-cost prosthetic limbs tailored for African amputees. Born in 1962, he trained in the UK but returned to Ghana to address the lack of accessible prosthetic solutions in Africa. His groundbreaking work began in the early 2000s through his organization Ghana Prosthetics and Orthotics Centre. Traditional prosthetics cost $1,500-$5,000, but his designs reduce costs to as little as $100 using locally sourced materials like recycled plastics and bamboo. This innovation has transformed lives across 23 African countries, providing mobility to over 30,000 individuals since 2005. His techniques were featured in a BBC documentary Innovation Africa and recognized by the Rolex Awards for Enterprise in 2010. Dr. Mensah's approach emphasizes local production training, creating jobs while reducing dependency on foreign aid. His work intersects with global health initiatives like WHO's Universal Health Coverage goals, making him a key figure in sustainable healthcare innovation.