Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang

Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang (born 22 November 1951 as Jane Naana Sam in Cape Coast, Ghana)[1] is a politician and educationalist who served as Minister for Education in Ghana. She was appointed in 2013 by President John Mahama after the 2012 Ghanaian general election and served until January 2017 when the Nana Akuffo-Addo administration was elected to power. In July of 2020, she was chosen as the running mate to the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), H.E. John Dramani Mahama. She is a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).[2][3][4]

Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang
Minister for Education
In office
February 2013 – January 2017
PresidentJohn Dramani Mahama
Preceded byLee Ocran
Succeeded byMatthew Opoku Prempeh
Personal details
Born (1951-11-22) 22 November 1951
Cape Coast, Ghana
Political partyNational Democratic Congress
Alma mater
OccupationProfessor

Professor Opoku-Agyemang, former Vice-Chancellor of University of Cape Coast, Ghana, was the first female Vice-Chancellor of a state University in Ghana.[5] She assumed duty on 1 October 2008, succeeding Emmanuel Addow-Obeng.

Early life and education

Born on 22 November 1951 in Cape Coast, Ghana, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang (nee Jane Naana Sam) attended Anglican Girls' Secondary School at Koforidua and Aburi Presby Girls' School. She then had her secondary education at the Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast from 1964 to 1971. She completed B.Ed.(Hons) in English and French at the University of Cape Coast in 1977 and obtained her Masters and Doctorate degrees from York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1980 and 1986 respectively.

Career

Professor Opoku-Agyemang taught and worked at the University of Cape Coast, starting in 1986. She has held various academic positions including Head of the Department of English, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Warden of Adehye Hall, Valco Trust Fund Post-Graduate Hostel, and Dean of School of Graduate Studies and Research. From 1997, she has 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.

In March, 2007, she was one of five scholars selected to deliver presentations during the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

In October 2009, she was elected Ghana's representative to the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Ahead of the 2012 general elections, Jane Opoku Agyemang moderated the debate with Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.[6]

Between February 2013 and January 2017 she served as the Education Minister of Ghana.[7]

On 26 October 2018, she became the Chancellor of the Women's University in Africa located in Zimbabwe.[8]

She 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 Eminent Citizen.[9]

Politics

Between February 2013 and January 2017 she served as the Education Minister of Ghana.[7] Opoku-Agyemang was selected as the presidential running mate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on July 6, 2020 for Ghana’s December 2020 General elections.[10]

Professional Association

Opoku-Agyemang is 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 among others.

Awards and recognition

Opoku-Agyemang has been honoured with honorary degrees from the University of West Indies[11] and Winston-Salem University.[12] She has also received an award for Global leadership from the University of South Florida in Tampa.[13] She has also received the Officer of the Order of the Volta award for Academic Distinction and Ghana Women of Excellence Award in the Education category.She has been acknowledged for Outstanding Performance in Advancing International Education, School for International Training, Vermont, USA on two occasions.[9]

Bibliography
  • "Where there is No Silence: Articulations of Resistance to Enslavement". Revised Inaugural Lecture to the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.
  • Opoku-Agyemang, N. J., Lovejoy, P. E., Trotman, D. V. (eds), Africa and its Diasporas: History, Memory and Literary Manifestations, Trenton, New Jersey, USA: Africa World Press, 2008.
  • Where There is No Silence: Articulations of Resistance to Enslavement, Accra: Page Link Publishers, 2008.
  • Anquandah, J., Opoku-Agyemang, N.J., and Doormont, M. (eds), The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade: Landmarks, Legacies, Expectations, Accra: Sub-Saharan Publishers, 2007, pp. 210–224.
  • "The Living Experience of the Slave Trade in Sankana and Gwollu: Literary Manifestations and Implications for Tourism". In James Anquandah, Naana Opoku-Agyemang and Michel Doormont (eds), The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade: Landmarks, Legacies, Expectations, Accra: Sub-Saharan Publishers, 2007, pp.
  • "A Fork in the Road: Ayi Kwei Armah's Osiris Rising and Florence Ladd's Sarah's Psalm on the subject of homecoming" in Naana J. Opoku-Agyemang, with Paul E. Lovejoy and David V. Trotman (eds), Africa and its Diasporas: History, Memory and Literary Manifestations, Trenton, New Jersey, USA: Africa World Press, 2008, pp. 303–318.[14]

References
  1. Ghana, News. "Profile of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang. - News Ghana". newsghana.com.gh. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. Gadugah, Nathan (1 February 2013). "Nana Oye Lithur and four other ministers approved". MyJoyOnline. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  3. "Nana Oye Lithur Approved by Appointments Committee". General news. Ghana Home Page. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  4. "Who is Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang?". Graphic Online. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  5. "Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman,". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  6. "IEA Presidential Debate: Who Stood Out?". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  7. "Prof. Opoku Agyeman heads Education, Tekper is new Finance Minister" Archived 2015-02-04 at the Wayback Machine , MyArkFMOnline.com, 11 January 2013.
  8. "Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang appointed Chancellor of Women's University in Africa". Graphic Online. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  9. "Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang – World Learning Inc". www.worldlearninginc.org. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  10. "Mahama picks Naana Opoku-Agyeman as running mate for 2020 elections". MyJoyOnline.com. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  11. "Regional University names fifteen Honorary Graduands" Archived 2014-02-19 at the Wayback Machine , University of the West Indies, 18 August 2010.
  12. "404: Page Not Found - Winston-Salem State University". wssu.edu. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 April 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Political offices
Preceded by
Lee Ocran		 Minister for Education
2013 – 2017		 Succeeded by
Matthew Opoku Prempeh
Party political offices
Preceded by
Kwesi Amissah-Arthur		 National Democratic Congress nominee for Vice President of Ghana
2020		 Incumbent
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