Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum
Former Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has been celebrated in the United States for his outstanding contributions to education in South Los Angeles, earning high praise and official recognition for his decades of dedicated service.
In a special ceremony during the 2025 graduation of New Designs Charter School in Los Angeles, Dr. Adutwum was presented with a Certificate of Recognition from U.S. Congresswoman, Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California’s 37th Congressional District.
The certificate commended him for his exceptional commitment to improving educational opportunities for underserved communities.
“On behalf of California’s 37th Congressional District, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, for your exceptional service in education in the inner community of South Los Angeles,” the citation read.
It further highlighted his lasting impact through his work with New Designs Charter Schools, an educational institution he founded over 20 years ago.
Dr. Adutwum, who served as the special guest of honour and keynote speaker at the graduation event, has spent much of his professional life shaping educational pathways for minority students in urban Los Angeles.
His New Designs Charter School, which offers tuition-free, college-preparatory programmes for students in grades 6 through 12, has grown into a respected educational model noted for its focus on equity, innovation, and student achievement.
According to his handlers, the recognition by Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove underscores the transformative work Dr. Adutwum has led in the United States, work that later caught the attention of then-presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who invited him to contribute to Ghana’s education reform.
Initially hesitant, Dr. Adutwum ultimately returned to Ghana to serve first as Deputy Minister and later as the substantive Minister for Education.
During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the Free Senior High School programme, a flagship initiative of the Akufo-Addo administration.
Dr. Adutwum is also credited for introducing the Double Track System, an innovative solution that expanded access to secondary education by increasing enrollment capacity.
His leadership further saw the aggressive promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, along with major investments in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Several state-of-the-art STEM schools equipped with modern laboratories were established under his watch, positioning Ghanaian students to thrive in the increasingly competitive global economy.
Dr. Adutwum’s recognition in the United States is seen by many as a reaffirmation of his life-long belief in education as a powerful vehicle for social and economic transformation.
A Daily Guide Report