Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang
FGA
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Official portrait, 2020
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| 8th Vice President of Ghana | |
| Assumed office 7 January 2025 |
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| President | John Mahama |
| Preceded by | Mahamudu Bawumia |
| Minister for Education | |
| In office February 2013 – January 2017 |
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| President | John Mahama |
| Preceded by | Lee Ocran |
| Succeeded by | Matthew Opoku Prempeh |
| Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast | |
| In office 2008–2012 |
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| Preceded by | Emmanuel Addow-Obeng |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jane Naana Sam
22 November 1951 Cape Coast, Ghana |
| Political party | National Democratic Congress |
| Spouse | Edmund Opoku-Agyemang |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Academic |
| Profession | Educationist, educator |
Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is a Ghanaian academic and politician. She was born on November 22, 1951. She made history by becoming the eighth Vice President of Ghana on January 7, 2025, serving alongside President John Mahama. Before this, she was Ghana's Minister for Education from 2013 to 2017.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang is known for her work in literature. She was the first woman to be a Vice-Chancellor of a state university in Ghana, leading the University of Cape Coast. Her career shows her dedication to education and breaking barriers for women in leadership roles in Ghana.
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Early Life and Education
Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was born as Jane Naana Sam in Cape Coast, Ghana. She attended Anglican Girls' School and Aburi Presby Girls' School. For her high school education, she went to Wesley Girls' Senior High School in Cape Coast from 1964 to 1971.
She earned her first degree in English and French from the University of Cape Coast in 1977. She also studied French in Senegal. Later, she received her master's and doctorate degrees from York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1980 and 1986.
Career Journey
Academic Achievements
Opoku-Agyemang began teaching at the University of Cape Coast in 1986. She held many important roles there. These included leading the English Department and being the Dean of the Faculty of Arts. From 2008 to 2012, she served as the university's Vice-Chancellor. This made her the first woman to hold such a high position in a state university in Ghana.
In 2007, she was chosen to speak at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. This was part of the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery. In 2009, she became Ghana's representative on the executive board of UNESCO. She also served as Chancellor of the Women's University in Africa in Zimbabwe until August 2024.
As an Author
Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is also a writer. She focuses on literature, especially about women in Ghana and Africa. She also writes about oral traditions and communication skills in the African Diaspora.
In 2015, while she was the Education Minister, she published a five-volume collection of folktales. The collection was titled "Who Told the most incredible story?"
Political Roles
Leading Education in Ghana
From February 2013 to January 2017, Opoku-Agyemang served as the Minister for Education. President John Mahama appointed her after his party won the 2012 elections.
During her time as Minister, she introduced several important changes. One major achievement was the Inclusive Education Policy in 2015. This policy helped ensure that children with special needs could learn alongside their classmates. This promoted equal chances for all students in Ghana.
She also worked to empower girls and promote fairness in education. Her leadership helped create policies that reduced differences between boys and girls in schools. These policies encouraged more girls to enroll and stay in school.
Another big change was turning 10 polytechnic colleges into technical universities. This improved the quality of vocational education. It helped students gain practical skills for jobs.
She also started building 124 Community Day Senior High Schools, called "E-Blocks." By the end of her term, 50 of these schools were finished. They provided modern facilities like science labs and computer centers. This greatly expanded access to high school education, especially in rural areas.
She also oversaw the completion of important buildings at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho. This included new school buildings and student housing. She also played a key role in setting up the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD).
Vice Presidential Journey
On July 6, 2020, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was chosen as the running mate for John Mahama in the 2020 general elections. She was the first woman to be a running mate for one of Ghana's two main political parties. Many women's groups praised her selection. They saw it as a positive step towards gender equality in Ghanaian politics.
She campaigned by asking Ghanaians to vote for change. She promised to use her position as Vice President to support sustainable development and policies for young people. Her campaign focused on positive messages rather than attacking opponents. Her efforts helped her party win many areas they had lost before.
She was chosen again as John Mahama's running mate for the 2024 general elections. After the 2024 presidential election, Mahama won, and Opoku-Agyemang became the Vice President-elect.
On January 7, 2025, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was sworn in as the Vice President of Ghana. This was a historic moment, as she became the first woman to hold this important office in Ghana's history. The ceremony took place in Accra.
Professional Groups
Opoku-Agyemang is a member of several important professional groups. These include the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and the University Teachers Association of Ghana. She is also part of the African Studies Association and the International Fulbright Scholars Association.
Personal Life
Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is a Christian and worships with the Methodist Church.
She was married to Edmund Opoku-Agyemang, who was also an academic. They have three children: Kweku, Kwabena, and Maame Adwoa Opoku-Agyemang. She also has two grandchildren.
Awards and Recognition
Opoku-Agyemang has received many awards and honors. She has honorary degrees from the University of the West Indies and Winston-Salem University. She also received an award for Global Leadership from the University of South Florida.
In 2011, President John Atta Mills gave her the Officer of the Order of the Volta award for her excellent academic work. She also received the Ghana Women of Excellence Award in Education. This was for her contributions to improving education in Ghana. She was recognized twice by the School for International Training in the USA for her work in international education.
In 2020, she was named among the 40 Most Inspirational Female Leaders in Ghana. This was for being a role model for women in Ghana and Africa. In January 2023, she was listed among the 100 most respected Africans.
See also
In Spanish: Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang para niños
