Watch Prof. Naana Jane's powerful women empowerment message amid ageism row

Read Article

Comments (12)

This article is closed for comments.

Read Comments Comments (12)

P Djamgbe 1 month ago

We, the youth of Ghana say YES to LGBT and same sex marriage. LGBT is part of Ghanaian culture.

We, the youth of Ghana say YES to LGBT and same sex marriage. LGBT is part of Ghanaian culture.
OSABARIMA MENSA 1 month ago

This French teacher is so stupid. Ghana is a country that respects its women. We respect our mothers who are more hardworking than our fathers. Our chief justice is a woman. Our university vice chancellors are women. We have ...
read full comment

This French teacher is so stupid. Ghana is a country that respects its women. We respect our mothers who are more hardworking than our fathers. Our chief justice is a woman. Our university vice chancellors are women. We have women ministers. We even have women charlatans who call themselves deacons and prophetesses. This old lady who deprived our school children of chalk, has no useful message, period.
Jay 1 month ago

It is rich coming from a leader who's president from NPP is 80 years old. No wonder there's no plan. Lets watch NPP looking for a female running mate because NDC has done so. Same with lowering the amount of ministers from 60 ...
read full comment

It is rich coming from a leader who's president from NPP is 80 years old. No wonder there's no plan. Lets watch NPP looking for a female running mate because NDC has done so. Same with lowering the amount of ministers from 60 by NDC to 50 by Bawuliar. NPP is a shameful bunch of incompetent idiots.
Limping horse John MAHAMA lack policies. 1 month ago

@Naana opoku agyeman, yes alot of our women have done fantastically well and continue to do so in our communities, but you what is your contribution, what mark have you made on our society until this clueless candidate picks ...
read full comment

@Naana opoku agyeman, yes alot of our women have done fantastically well and continue to do so in our communities, but you what is your contribution, what mark have you made on our society until this clueless candidate picks you up as his vice, Professor DO LITTLE, you bring absolutely nothing to NDC or your community.
Summer 1 month ago

Kwasia read her profile and see whether anyone in your family has been able to do what this woman has done
Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana

Profile of Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
Leticia OseibyLeticia Osei ...
read full comment

Kwasia read her profile and see whether anyone in your family has been able to do what this woman has done
Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana

Profile of Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
Leticia OseibyLeticia Osei March 7, 2024 Reading Time: 4 mins read

Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has been formally declared the running mate of John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang previously held the position of running mate to Mr. Mahama during the 2020 general elections.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party held a meeting on Thursday, March 7, 2024, during which they officially approved Mahama’s selection for the running mate position.

The National Executive Committee today March 7, 2024, officially endorsed Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as the running mate for the party’s flagbearer, in the upcoming 2024 general elections.

Below is the Profile of Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang

Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang born 22 November is a Ghanaian academic and politician who served as Minister for Education from February 2013 to January 2017. She is a full professor of literature.

She served as the first female Vice-Chancellor of a state university in Ghana when she took over as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast. She currently serves as the Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa.

In the December 2020 Ghanaian presidential election, she partnered with John Mahama as his running mate on the NDC party ticket. Mahama made an official declaration of Opoku-Agyeman as his running mate on July 6, 2020.

Early life and education

Born on 22 November 1951 in Cape Coast, Ghana as Jane Naana Sam, she 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. She 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.

Academic career

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 the Founding 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. She assumed duty on 1 October 2008, succeeding Emmanuel Addow-Obeng.

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.

On 26 October 2018, she became Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa located in Zimbabwe.

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 an Eminent Citizen.

Author

Opoku-Agyemang is an author. Her focus areas include Literature with a focus on Women from Ghana, Oral literature in Ghana and Africa, and Communication Skills and Issues in the African Diaspora. As an academic, she has written and published in scholarly journals and presented articles at various conferences including at the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City and at the Inaugural Lecture to the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.

In 2015, as Education Minister, she published and launched a five-volume collection of published folktales titled ‘Who told the Most Incredible Story?

Politics

Minister for Education

Between February 2013 and January 2017 she served as the Minister of Education after she was appointed by President John Mahama to serve in that role after the National Democratic Congress had won the 2012 Ghanaian general election.

One of her focus areas was empowering the girl child education and empowering women. During her tenure as Minister for Education, she focused on implementing policies that covered inclusiveness in education in Ghana which birthed the Inclusive Education Policy 2015.

Vice presidential campaign

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. She became the first female running mate of the two major political parties in Ghana.

Her selection by the flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress was applauded by women groups and women activists as a positive sign to the Ghanaian political scene to promote gender balance and equality.

She appealed to Ghanaians to vote for change and promised to use her office as vice president to influence sustainable development and practical youth-centred policies. Her campaign message was devoid of attacks on opponents.

Her intensive campaign in the coastal communities and her home region, the Central Region yielded results as the NDC won most of the constituencies they had lost in 2016. The NDC also won 9 out of the 16 regions in Ghana including the major battleground, Greater Accra.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang continues to remain one of the most influential voices in Ghanaian politics. She has criticized the implementation of the government’s Free SHS policy which was a major campaign item for the ruling party.

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 amongst others.

Personal life

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.

Awards and recognition

Opoku-Agyemang has been honoured with honorary degrees from the University of West Indies and Winston-Salem University. She has also received an award for Global leadership from the University of South Florida in Tampa.

She has also received the Officer of the Order of the Volta award for Academic Distinction in 2011 by President John Atta Mills. And Ghana Women of Excellence Award in the Education category due her contribution to the development and promotion of quality education in Ghana.

She has been acknowledged for Outstanding Performance in Advancing International Education, School for International Training, Vermont, USA on two occasions.

In 2020 she was named among the 40 Most Inspirational Female Leaders in Ghana for serving as a role model for women in Ghana and in Africa Avance media also named her among the 100 Most Influential Women in Africa. In January 2023, Opoku Agyemang was listed among the 100 most reputable Africans.
AK 1 month ago

You cannot court sympathy using his comments. Afenyo chose his words carefully. He said Mahama has chosen an older "person" he did not say "woman". So the emphasis is on the person not the gender. This means even if the runni ...
read full comment

You cannot court sympathy using his comments. Afenyo chose his words carefully. He said Mahama has chosen an older "person" he did not say "woman". So the emphasis is on the person not the gender. This means even if the running mate is a man and older he would have said same. If the political oven is too hot for you nothing stops you from leaving so don't use gender to attract sympathy. Nana Addo was attacked by the NDC because of age and he never used his gender as a defense. This trick wont work
This woman is a joke. 1 month ago

Literature for nation building. So hollow and shallow.

Literature for nation building. So hollow and shallow.
is Foolishness too a curse? 1 month ago

YOU (NDC) HAVE A LADY LIKE ZANETOR who can easily win you 90% of the Voltarian, compete immensely with Bawumia with Ashante vote and gain maximum with Ga votes and split the Fantes votes because she school there. Rather you g ...
read full comment

YOU (NDC) HAVE A LADY LIKE ZANETOR who can easily win you 90% of the Voltarian, compete immensely with Bawumia with Ashante vote and gain maximum with Ga votes and split the Fantes votes because she school there. Rather you guys are going to hustle with Jane. for the Fantes you already have about 45%$ secured its only the 6% that you need to fight so why don't you maximize you chance in the Ashante and volta and individually fight the central and the western which is likely you will get because the economy is the answer. The old lady can't will much of the wing vote than Zenator. Ato you people should think.
YKB 1 month ago

Wish you the best Prof. I hope the other women who are looting milking the country are listening. God bless Ghana

Wish you the best Prof. I hope the other women who are looting milking the country are listening. God bless Ghana
KING GOLGOTHA 1 month ago

This useless woman is just waisting her time.i pitty Mahama

This useless woman is just waisting her time.i pitty Mahama
SALY 1 month ago

ARE THERE BRAINS IN THIS DONKEY HEAD

ARE THERE BRAINS IN THIS DONKEY HEAD
Kweks 1 month ago

Hon Afenyo-Markin, leading a nation is about character and competence and not muscles. It's not about gender. It's about love for country guided by good vision and mission. NDC is the answer for Ghana today and we are fortuna ...
read full comment

Hon Afenyo-Markin, leading a nation is about character and competence and not muscles. It's not about gender. It's about love for country guided by good vision and mission. NDC is the answer for Ghana today and we are fortunate to have Prof Jane as out Vice leader

Watch Prof. Naana Jane's powerful women empowerment message amid ageism row

Read Comments .st0{display:none;fill:#14BDD3;} .st1{display:none;} .st2{display:inline;fill:#FC0F0F;} .st3{display:inline;fill:#FFFFFF;} .st4{display:inline;fill:none;stroke:#000000;stroke-width:6;stroke-miterlimit:10;} Comments (12)

Read Comments Comments (12)