POLITICS
Why I chose Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as my running mate-Mahama
The flagbearer of National Democractic Congress John Dramani Mahama has explained why he chose Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate for the 2020 elections.
He described her as a “God-fearing, a distinguished scholar… and a role model” moments after the National Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) “unanimously endorsed her nomination” on Monday, July 6, 2020.
“The National Executive Committee of our great party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) this afternoon, unanimously, endorsed my nomination of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as my Running Mate for the December 2020 election.
“Naana Jane is God-fearing, a distinguished scholar, a conscientious public servant and a role model,” Mahama said shortly after the endorsement in a Facebook post.
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Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang was born on 22 November 1951 in Cape Coast, Ghana.
She was a former Minister for Education in Ghana. She was appointed in 2013 by President John Dramani Mahama after the 2012 general election and served until January 2017.
Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang 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 and obtained her Masters and Doctorate degrees from York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1980 and 1986 respectively.
Professor 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 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 2008-2012 she was the University’s Vice Chancellor.
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.
Between February 2013 and January 2017 she served as the Education Minister of Ghana.
On 26 October 2018, she became the 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 Eminent Citizen.
