On Tuesday, January 7, 2024, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang was sworn-in as Ghana’s Vice President, making her the first woman to occupy the office. When she was chosen as John Mahama’s running mate in March 2024, she became the first woman to run on the ticket of a major political party.
Prior to becoming Ghana’s vice president, the professor of literature served as the first female Vice-Chancellor of Ghana’s University of Cape Coast as well as the Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa.
Born on November 22, 1951, the Ghanaian academic turned politician attended Anglican Girls’ Secondary School at Koforidua and Aburi Presby Girls’ School. She continued her secondary education at Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast from 1964 to 1971.
She then went to the University of Cape Coast, where she read B.Ed.(Hons) in English and French. She subsequently earned a Diploma in Advanced Studies in French from the University of Dakar and obtained her master’s degree and Doctorate degrees from York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1980 and 1986 respectively.
In 1986, she started her academic career at the University of Cape Coast and rose through the ranks, holding various positions including serving as the Head of the Department of English, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Warden of Adehye Hall, Valco Trust Fund Post-Graduate Hostel, and the Founding Dean of School of Graduate Studies and Research.
Also, she held the position of Academic Director of the School for International Training in the History and Cultures of the African Diaspora. From 2008 to 2012 she was the university’s Vice Chancellor, after succeeding Emmanuel Addow-Obeng.
She also served on a number of international organizations. In October 2009, she was elected Ghana’s representative to the executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Opoku-Agyemang was also appointed Ghana’s education minister by President John Mahama after the National Democratic Congress had won the 2012 Ghanaian general election. As education minister from 2013 to 2017, she focused on implementing policies that catered to inclusiveness in education in Ghana and this brought about the Inclusive Education Policy 2015.
Opoku-Agyemang has served on many local and international boards and committees such as the Centre for Democratic Governance, (CDD-Ghana), the editorial board of the Harriet Tubman Series on the African Diaspora (Africa World Press Inc. USA), the Africa Initiative in Canada, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons as an Eminent Citizen.
She is also a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, University Teachers Association of Ghana, English Studies Association, African Studies Association, United States, African Literature Association, United States and International Fulbright Scholars Association, Commonwealth of Learning amongst others.
Opoku-Agyemang is a Christian who worships as a Methodist. She has three children; Dr. Kweku Opoku-Agyemang, Dr. Kwabena Opoku-Agyemang and Dr. Maame Adwoa Opoku-Agyemang.
A full professor of literature, her long public service has seen her win multiple awards, including honorary degrees from the University of West Indies and Winston-Salem University as well as Global leadership from the University of South Florida in Tampa.
What is more, she is a recipient of the Officer of the Order of the Volta award for Academic Distinction as well as Ghana Women of Excellence Award in the Education category.
The educator and politician was named among the 40 Most Inspirational Female Leaders in Ghana in 2020 and also among the 100 Most Influential Women in Africa by Africa Avance media.
