Female Vice-Chancellors Congratulate Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, Discuss Higher Education Development
A delegation of female Vice-Chancellors has paid a courtesy call on the Vice-President-Elect, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, to congratulate her on her historic achievement and deliberate on the future of higher education in Ghana prior to her inauguration ceremony.
The meeting, held in Accra, highlighted their shared commitment to advancing education and supporting women in leadership roles.
The delegation included Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana; Prof. Mrs. Esi Awuah, foundational and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani and Prof. Lydia Aziato, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS). Though unable to attend, Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice-Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), extended her best wishes.
Lauding her historic achievement, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo congratulated Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, describing her election as a monumental inspiration for women across various sectors. She expressed confidence in Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s impact, particularly in education, given her extensive experience as a former Minister of Education.
“Higher education is not cheap; therefore, a holistic education funding dialogue is essential to eliminate barriers and disadvantages,” she noted, reiterating her earlier call made during a visit to President John Mahama.
Prof. Amfo further underlined the significance of their visit, stating, “We are here as sisters and will rally behind you. We wish you success in this important role.”
Prof. Mrs. Esi Awuah described Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s election as a monumental achievement for women in academia and governance. “For us, this is an amazingly good development. Your strides as a former Vice-Chancellor have opened doors for many women in leadership. We are confident that your tenure as Vice-President will have a transformative impact, especially in education, given your extensive experience,” she stated.
Prof. Lydia Aziato praised Prof. Opoku-Agyemang for her mentorship and support during her tenure as Vice-Chancellor, noting how her leadership inspired many women to break barriers. “Your victory is a concrete ceiling-breaker for women in leadership,” she remarked.
In her response, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang expressed her appreciation for the visit and the encouraging words from her colleagues. She commended their achievements as trailblazers in academia and urged them to continue addressing challenges within their institutions.
“Higher education forms the foundation for all the country can achieve. While my background is in education, I recognise that all sectors need serious attention and we will work earnestly to address them,” she said. She encouraged the Vice-Chancellors to focus on improving the quality of education and creating conducive environments for learning and research.
The Vice-President also emphasised the importance of using education to equip students with job creation skills and called for greater reliance on graduate and research assistants supported by funding for advanced studies.
Reflecting on her journey, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang thanked God for His providence and reiterated the importance of holistic education funding to eliminate barriers and disadvantages. She emphasised the need for occasional lectures to unearth young talents and foster productivity in higher education.
As a token of their support, the delegation presented Prof. Opoku-Agyemang with a bronze artwork embossed with the Adinkra symbol “Nea Ope Se Obedi Hene,” which translates to “He who wants to be king” (must first serve). The symbol represents leadership, service and protection, qualities the delegation acknowledged in the Vice-President.
The meeting ended with a shared commitment to promoting education as a cornerstone for national development and a pledge to rally behind Prof. Opoku-Agyemang as she assumes her new role.
