Ruby Yayra Goka

**Ruby Yayra Goka** (dem born am 15 May 1982, Accra) be Ghanaian dentist den author. She get 15 books for ein credit insyd wey she be best known secof ein multiple Burt Award for African Literature winner for Ghana insyd.

Goka, wey be alumnus give University of Ghana Dental School, be de current head give Dental Department for Volta Regional Hospital wey dey Ho.

## Life

Dem born am insyd Accra, Ghana, na Simon Yao Goka, a retired diplomat den Lydia Aku Goka, a stay-at-home-mommie born Goka. Wen na Ruby dey two years old, ein family move go Ethiopia, wer ma she attend de Peter Pan International School. Wen she be six, ein family move back to Ghana wey she continue ein basic den secondary education for de St. Anthony's School (1988–96) den Achimota School (1996–99) respectively both insyd Accra.

She obtain a BDS from de University of Ghana Dental School insyd 2009 wey she work for two years for de Ridge Hospital Accra, insyd Accra. She later move go Sogakofe, wer she work for two years for de South Tongu District Hospital. She be a fellow of de Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons after she plete ein residency training for de Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi insyd 2016 den ein fellowship training for de University of Ghana Dental School, Accra insyd 2023. She currently dey head de Dental Department of de Ho Teaching Hospital, Ho.

Insyd 2017, na Goka win an award insyd de Authorship and Creative Writing Category insyd de 40 under 40 awards insyd Ghana. Na dem sanso award am a Medical Excellence Award insyd Dentistry insyd de same year. Goka be a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow.

## Bibliography

**Adult Books**:

* ''Disfigured'' (2011)
* ''In The Middle of Nowhere'' (2011) 

**Young Adult Books**:

* ''The Mystery of The Haunted House'' (2010)
* ''The Lost Royal Treasure'' (2011)
* ''When the Shackles Fall'' (2012)
* ''Those Who Wait '' (2012)
* ''Perfectly Imperfect'' (2013)
* ''Plain Yellow'' (2014)
* ''The Step-Monster'' (2015)
* ''To Kiss A Girl'' (2018)
* ''Whatever It Takes'' (2019)
* ''Blast To The Past'' (2020)
* ''Girl On Fire'' (2020)
* ''Even When Your Voice Shakes'' (2022)
* ''The Broken Wall'' (2024)
* ''On the Inside'' (2024)

**Kiddies dema books**:

* ''A Gift for Fafa''
* *Tani’s Wish* (2016)
* ''Mama’s Amazing Cover Cloth'' (2018)
* *My ABC Book of Special Words* (2021)
* *Sela Gets a Haircut* (2024)
* ''Xornam Xonexoe'' (2024)
* ''Grandma and the Goat Thief'' (2024)

**Anthologies**:

* *Mother, Anthology of writing on mothers* (contribution: "The ABCs of Motherhood")

## Awards

* Monteiro Lobato FNLIJ Award 2023 *(Mesmo Quando sua voz Falar)*
* Rise: A feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18 Honour Book 2023 *(Even When Your Voice Shakes)*   
* Efua Sutherland Children's Book Prize 2022/Ghana Association of Writers' Children's Story Prize *(Even When Your Voice Shakes)*
* Brittle Paper's 100 Notable African Books of 2022 *(Even When Your Voice Shakes)*
* Books for Keeps Ten of the Best: Books from the Commonwealth 2022 *(Even When Your Voice Shakes)*
* Kirkus Review 2022 *(Even When Your Voice Shakes)*
* School Library Journal Review 2022 *(Even When Your Voice Shakes)*
* Efua Sutherland Children's Book Prize 2021/Ghana Association of Writers' Children's Story Prize *(Trotro Trio: A Blast to the Past)*
* Women in Sports Collection 2020 *(Girl on Fire)*
* IBBY Honour Book 2020 (Mama's Amazing *Cover Cloth)*
* Efua Sutherland Children's Book Prize 2020/Ghana Association of Writers' Children's Story Prize *(Mama's Amazing Cover Cloth)*
* CABA Honour Book 2019 *(Mama's Amazing Cover Cloth)*
* Ayi Kwei Armah Award 2019/Ghana Association of Writers Novel Prize *(To Kiss a Girl)* (2019) 
* Inspire Us Book Collection 2019: Honour Book (*Whatever it Takes*) (2019)
* The Professor Kofi Awoonor Literary Prize 2018: Second runner-up *(In the Middle of Nowhere)*
* Efua Sutherland Book Prize 2018/Ghana Association of Writers' Children's Story Prize *(A Gift for Fafa)*
* Ayi Kwei Armah Award 2018/Ghana Association of Writers' Novel Prize Runner-up *(In the Middle of Nowhere)*
* Burt Award for African Literature 2018 *(To Kiss a Girl)*
* CODE Burt Award for Ghanaian Young Adult Literature 2018 *(The Broken Wall)*
* CODE Burt Award for Young Adult Literature: All Star Edition 2017 *(The Step-Monster)*
* Medical Excellence Award—Dentist category (2017)
* 40 under 40 award: Authorship and creative writing (2017)
* Burt Award for African Young Adult Literature (2017) (Finalist)
* Ghana Writers’ Awards—Short Story Category (2017) (Finalist)         
* Burt Award for African Young Adults (2017) (Honour Prize)
* Burt Award for African Literature (2015) (First Prize)
* Burt Award for African Literature (2014) (Second Prize)
* Burt Award for African Literature (2013) (First Prize)
* Burt Award for African Literature (2012) (Second Prize)
* Burt Award for African Literature (2012) (Honourable Mention)
* Burt Award for African Literature (2011) (Second Prize)
* Burt Award for African Literature (2010) (Third Prize) 
## References