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York U alumna makes history as Ghana’s first female vice-president

By Christopher Douris | January 10, 2025

When Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was sworn in as Ghana’s first female vice-president on Jan. 7, it marked the latest barrier shattered by the York University alumna.

VP Research & Innovation, Dean LA&PS, Prof. Solomon Boakye-Yiadom, Prof. Godfred Boateng  and Julie Hard meeting with Prof. Opoku-Agyemang in Cape Coast in early 2024 during York’s first institutional visit to Ghana.
Professor Solomon Boakye-Yiadom, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies Dean J.J. McMurtry, Vice-President of Ghana Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Vice-President Research & Innovation Amir Asif, Professor Godfred Boateng and Director of Global and Community Partnerships Julie Hard during a meeting in Cape Coast in early 2024 during York’s first institutional visit to Ghana.

Her inauguration is another milestone in her journey from distinguished academic to national leader. Long before entering the political arena, she achieved historic firsts as the first female vice-chancellor of a Ghanaian public university in 2008, and Ghana’s first female minister of education, appointed by then-president John Mahama after the 2012 Ghanaian general election.

Her journey began in 1977 at the University of Cape Coast where she graduated with a BA (Hons) in education. She followed up with a master’s and doctoral degree in 1980 and 1986 respectively, both in English literature, at York University.

Vice-Provost and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Alice MacLachlan, says: “Professor Opoku-Agyemang’s trajectory as an alumna speaks to the nature of graduate research here at York – in particular, our commitment to cutting-edge research that remains socially engaged and grounded.

(Read the full article on YFile)