OFFICIAL: Mahama selects Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang as running mate

The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama, has selected Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate for the 2020 presidential elections.

The National Communication Officer of the NDC, Mr Sammy Gyamfi announced that Prof Opoku-Agyeman had been selected as running mate for the NDC ticket after a meeting between the flagbearer and the National Executive Committee (NEC) at the NDC Headquarters on Monday, July 6, 2020, in Accra.

He told pressmen that Prof Opoku-Agyeman received a unanimous endorsement from the NEC and the Council of Elders of the party.

"...I can tell you that, the running mate of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the 2020 General Election is Professor Jane Naana Agyemang. That choice has been approved unanimously by the Council," Mr Gyamfi said.

FLASHBACK: Mr Mahama in conversation with Prof Opoku-Agyemang

He also indicated that the reasons for what he described as a "historic choice" will be detailed in a statement that will be issued later by Mr Mahama.

"We are certain in our minds that this is a winning ticket. His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, ably supported by the competent, trustworthy, honest, sincere, matured Professor Naana Jane Agyemang will deliver victory for the NDC in the coming elections," he stressed.

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Mahama full of praise

Meanwhile, the NDC flagbearer has taken to his social media handles to extol the virtues of Prof Opoku-Agyemang.

He wrote: "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".

Profile

Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang is the current Africa Board Chairperson of the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE). She has been a FAWE member since 2014. She is a former Minister of Education in Ghana.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast in 2008, the first female Vice-Chancellor of a public university in Ghana.

Before heading the university, she had since 1986 served as head of the Department of English, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Dean of the Board of Graduate Studies and Founding Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research.

She was also the Academic Director of the African Diaspora Studies programme of School for International Training Study Abroad.

In October 2009, she was elected Ghana’s representative to UNESCO’s Executive Board. She has been re-elected for a second time to UNESCO Executive Board.

She obtained her Diplôme Supérieure d’Etudes Françaises from the University of Dakar, Senegal in 1976, a B. A. (Hons) with a Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Coast in 1977 and Masters and Doctorate degrees from York University in Toronto, Canada in 1980 and 1986 respectively.

Naana has chaired more than twenty Boards and Committees, among them: the Council of the University College of Education, Winneba 1998-2002; Academic Committee of the Ghana Council for Tertiary Education; and was Joint Co-coordinator of the Specialist Program in English Language and Ghanaian Culture for Japan Overseas Co-operation Volunteers 1991-1993.

She has also chaired the Adjudication Committee, VALCO Literary Awards, Ghana 1993-1998; Board of Governors, Ghana Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-Ghana) since its founding in 1998; and, Board of Governors, Wesley Girls High School 1994-1998.

In recognition of her outstanding contribution to the development and promotion of quality education in Ghana, the Ghana Women of Excellence Award was conferred her.

She is a member of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences; University Teachers Association of Ghana; English Studies Association; African Studies Association, USA; African Literature Association, USA; and the International Fulbright Scholars Association.

She is the recipient of four honorary doctoral degrees; the Global Leadership Award; many national and international awards; she serves on several councils, boards, and committees and has published many books and articles. She is also a two-time Fulbright scholar and is currently a Fellow of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL).

She is from Cape Coast in the Central Region.

This is a developing story and will be updated...