Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is a Ghanaian academic, author, and politician. She currently serves as the Vice President-elect of Ghana, making history as the first female Vice President of the country. Previously, she was the Minister for Education from February 2013 to January 2017 and became the first female Vice-Chancellor of a state university in Ghana when she assumed the role at the University of Cape Coast (UCC). She is also the Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa, Zimbabwe.
Early Life and Education
Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was born on 22 November 1951 in Cape Coast, Ghana, to the Sam family. She attended Anglican Girls’ Secondary School in Koforidua and Aburi Presby Girls’ School. She proceeded to Wesley Girls’ High School, Cape Coast, from 1964 to 1971.
She earned a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree in English and French from the University of Cape Coast in 1977, followed by a Diploma in Advanced Studies in French from the University of Dakar. She later obtained her master’s degree (1980) and Ph.D. (1986) from York University, Toronto, Canada.
Academic Career
Opoku-Agyemang’s academic journey began in 1986 at the University of Cape Coast, where she served in various capacities:
Head of the Department of English
Dean of the Faculty of Arts
Warden of Adehye Hall
Founding Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research
From 1997, she was the Academic Director of the School for International Training in the History and Cultures of the African Diaspora. In 2008, she became Vice-Chancellor of UCC, serving until 2012.
Her contributions extended globally, including her election in 2009 as Ghana’s representative on the UNESCO Executive Board. She was also one of five scholars selected to deliver presentations at the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery at the United Nations Headquarters in 2007.
Political Career
Minister for Education (2013–2017)
Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang served as Minister for Education under President John Mahama’s administration. During her tenure, she implemented policies promoting inclusivity in education, including the launch of Ghana’s Inclusive Education Policy (2015). She also advocated for girl-child education and women empowerment initiatives.
Vice Presidential Campaign
On 6 July 2020, Opoku-Agyemang was selected as the running mate of John Dramani Mahama on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket for the 2020 elections, becoming the first female running mate of a major political party in Ghana. Although the NDC did not win, her candidacy was widely celebrated for advancing gender balance in Ghanaian politics.
In 2024, she was again selected as Mahama’s running mate. Their victory marked her historic election as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
Authorship and Publications
Opoku-Agyemang is a distinguished author and academic. Her works focus on:
Women in Ghanaian literature
Oral literature in Africa
African diaspora studies
She has published scholarly articles and presented at numerous conferences, including the Harriet Tubman Series on the African Diaspora and the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2015, she released a five-volume folktale collection, Who Told the Most Incredible Story?
Awards and Recognition
Opoku-Agyemang has received numerous accolades, including:
Officer of the Order of the Volta (2011) for Academic Distinction
Ghana Women of Excellence Award (Education Category)
Honorary degrees from the University of the West Indies and Winston-Salem University
Leadership awards from institutions such as the University of South Florida
In 2020, she was named among the 40 Most Inspirational Female Leaders in Ghana.
Professional Associations
She is a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, the African Literature Association (USA), the African Studies Association (USA), and other prestigious organizations.
Personal Life
Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is a devout Methodist. She is a mother of three:
Kweku Opoku-Agyemang
Kwabena Opoku-Agyemang
Maame Adwoa Opoku-Agyemang
She also has two grandchildren.
Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang’s illustrious career as an academic, author, and politician reflects her commitment to education, equity, and societal advancement. She continues to inspire generations in Ghana and beyond.
