FROM CLASSROOM TO POLITICS: MEET GHANA'S FIRST FEMALE VICE PRESIDENT, JANE OPOKU- AGYEMANG. (PHOTO).

 From Classroom to Politics: Meet Ghana’s First Female Vice President, Jane Opoku-Agyemang

Ghana celebrated a historic moment on Tuesday as Professor Jane Opoku-Agyemang was sworn in as the country’s first female Vice President alongside President John Mahama in Accra.

The 73-year-old trailblazer captured national and international attention at the inauguration, attended by dignitaries such as Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traore, Kenya’s William Ruto, and DR Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi.

President Mahama, who previously served from 2012 to 2017, pledged to “reset” Ghana by renegotiating parts of the IMF deal and introducing a “24-hour” economy to tackle unemployment, a pressing issue for the country’s youth.

Key Facts About Jane Opoku-Agyemang:

Birth and Early Education: Born on November 22, 1951, she attended Anglican Girls’ School, Aburi Presby Girls’ School, and Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast.

Tertiary Education: She earned a B.Ed. (Hons) in English and French from the University of Cape Coast in 1977, a Diploma in Advanced Studies in French from the University of Dakar, and master’s and doctorate degrees from York University, Canada, in 1980 and 1986, respectively.

Academic Career: A full professor of Literature, she became Ghana’s first female Vice-Chancellor of a state university at the University of Cape Coast.

Ministerial Role: She served as Ghana’s Minister of Education from February 2013 to January 2017.

International Recognition: In 2007, she was among five scholars who delivered presentations at the UN Headquarters to mark the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery.

UNESCO Contribution: In 2009, she was elected Ghana’s representative to UNESCO’s executive board.

Moderating Political Debates: She co-moderated the 2012 presidential debate with Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

Political Journey: Chosen as John Mahama’s running mate for the 2020 elections, she returned to academia after their loss. In 2024, she resigned as Vice-Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa, Zimbabwe, to rejoin politics.

Making History: She was reselected as Mahama’s running mate in 2024, winning the election and becoming Ghana’s first female Vice President.

Jane Opoku-Agyemang’s remarkable journey from academia to politics highlights her dedication to education, leadership, and national progress, solidifying her place as a transformative figure in Ghanaian history.