Ghana’s new vice president leaves a legacy at SIT

March 21st, 2025   |   Africa, Faculty, SIT Study Abroad

Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang made history in December 2024, when she was elected the first female vice president of Ghana. Her impressive career has spanned numerous roles, including former minister of education and professor of literature. She and her husband served as SIT academic co-directors in Ghana, and she later became the sole academic director, a position she held until 2008. Today, this position is held by her son, Dr. Kwabena Opoku-Agyemang.

We spoke to him about how his mother’s work influenced his own career, how SIT’s programs teach students about in-country current events, and his advice for prospective students interested in studying in Ghana.

Your parents were once SIT faculty members. Can you share more about that? Is that why you decided to work for SIT?

My parents were SIT academic co-directors when I was a child. They ran the diaspora program in Cape Coast, Ghana. My mom later became the sole academic director until 2008, and I interacted with the successive cohorts of students when they came to Cape Coast.

I took on the job because I was interested in helping to curate the experiences of students when they came to Ghana. In my discussions with students when I was younger, I enjoyed seeing how they understood the country differently after a few weeks and then after a semester. I felt it was natural to work with SIT, because I had a lot of great memories interacting with SIT students. I'm still friends with some of them.

How has your mother’s career influenced you and your career?

My mom taught me to do what I wanted, provided I was interested in doing it. It was simple advice that has taken me far. Incidentally, I have done the same things she has done—professor of English and SIT academic director.

Your mother’s role will help to shape Ghana’s future in new ways. How does SIT’s program in Ghana teach students about your country’s current events?

SIT's programs are informed by experiential learning, which means that students learn through practical experience. We ensure that the students read about and attend current events, and we have guest lecturers or professionals discuss key issues with them. For instance, we have students attend and participate in art festivals like Chale Wote, and prior to the event, we have one of the founders deliver a lecture on the event. We also have them attend public lectures that shape public discourse, like the Kronti Ne Akwamu lectures, and we debrief afterward.

What advice do you have for prospective students interested in studying in Ghana?

Prospective students should embrace the opportunity to engage with different perspectives beyond their current experiences. It is usually challenging to leave their familiar American environment for an African country with a distinct culture. They should approach the educational journey in Ghana with an open mind, recognizing that every experience is not just a learning moment; it also contributes to personal and professional growth. Ultimately, they learn how a different culture can make them see their own history, such as the transatlantic slave trade, or contemporary issues like geopolitics through an African lens.

Learn more about SIT Study Abroad programs in Ghana!