Jane Opoku-Agyemang made history as the first female Vice President of Ghana, a ground breaking achievement in the 67 years since the country gained independence.
This is not her first time as a trailblazer in her career. She was also the first female Vice-Chancellor of a state university in Ghana.
Read also: Mahama sworn in as Ghanaian president, Opoku-Agyemang first female VP
Among over 35 million citizens, she stands out as a beacon of hope, inspiring women to become more involved in politics.
Professor Jane Opoku-Agyemang is 73 years old, 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 her master’s and Doctorate degrees from York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1980 and 1986, respectively.
She served as the country’s Minister of Education from February 2013 to January 2017. She is a professor of Literature. She served as the first female Vice-Chancellor of a state university in Ghana before taking over as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast.
In October 2009, she was elected Ghana’s representative to the executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). In the December 2020 Ghanaian presidential election, John Mahama selected her as his running mate on the NDC party ticket. After she lost the election, she returned to the classroom and in August 2024, she resigned as the Vice-Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa in Zimbabwe to join politics.
She was selected again as running mate to Mahama in 2024 and won, becoming the first female Vice President of Ghana. She is married to fellow academic, Edmund Opoku-Agyemang and together they have three children.
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