Prof. William Kofi Koomson (left) decorating Akosua Frema Osei-Opare (middle) with a Doctor of Science Degree at the ceremony.
Valley View University, Ghana’s leading private university, hosted a special congregation to confer the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) degree on the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, among other award recipients.
This was in acknowledgement of her accomplishments and contributions to the country’s growth and the overall advancement of humanity.
Madam Osei-Opare, Ghana’s first female Chief of Staff, has accomplished much in her career, having held positions in various fields.
After studying Bsc. Home Science at the University of Ghana, Legon, she was awarded a Canadian Government scholarship to pursue her Master of Science degree in Foods at Guelph University in Canada.
She worked as a Pupil Teacher at Mampong’s St. Monica’s Secondary School and as a Research Assistant at University of Ghana’s Institute of Statistical, Social, and Economic Research (ISSER).
She later became a lecturer at the Home Science Department of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Ghana, Legon, where she advanced to the position of Acting Head of Department between 1988 and 1989.
Madam Osei-Opare’s professional experience also includes working as a Lecturer/Consultant at Yambio Institute of Agriculture as part of the Government of the Republic of Sudan’s USAID-funded Southern Manpower Development Project, as well as working on various Community Welfare/Socio-Economist-Integrated Rural Fisheries Development Projects in Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, Congo, Brazzaville, Kenya, and Namibia. She was also a Consultant for Income Generation: FAO/UNDP Programming Mission for Malawi’s Fifth Country Programme.
After her experience in the field, Madam Osei-Opare transitioned into politics and joined the New Patriotic Party (NPP), eventually becoming the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency from 2004-2008 and from 2009-2012.
She was appointed as the Deputy Minister for Manpower and Social Welfare, now the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations. In recognition of her contributions to society, Madam Osei-Opare was later appointed as the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President of Ghana, where she became the first female to be appointed to this position in the history of the country.
In acknowledgement of her accomplishments, Valley View University conferred the Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) to Madam Osei-Opare on Friday, July 7, 2023.
Madam Osei-Opare delivered a lecture on ‘Social Protection in Ghana: are we on track?’ at the university shortly before receiving the degree.
“On the basis of these achievements and contributions that you, your honour, had made to the development of Ghana and the general progress of humanity, Valley View University hereby acknowledges these achievements and hereby confer on you the Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) this day, Friday, July 7, 2023,” excerpt of the citation read.
Three other distinguished personalities were also honoured at the university’s first special congregation.
They are the President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, Ghana’s former President John Agyekum Kufuor, and former First Lady of Ghana, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
They received Honorary Doctorates in Humane Letters.
The special guest of honour at the congregation, President Nana Akufo-Addo, congratulated the recipients for their stellar achievements.
Valley View University is a private university with campuses located at Oyibi (Accra), Kumasi and Techiman (Sunyani) respectively in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Bono East regions. It forms part of a worldwide system of over 100 tertiary institutions operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The institute of learning was established in 1979 by the West African Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventists (now Ghana Union Conference).
By Vincent Kubi