Yaw Osei Adutwum

Hon. Dr.
Yaw Osei Adutwum
Minister for Education
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 March 2021
PresidentNana Akufo-Addo
Preceded byMatthew Opoku Prempeh
Member of Ghanaian Parliament for
Bosomtwe Constituency
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 January 2017
Preceded bySimon Osei-Mensah
Deputy Minister for Education
In office
1 March 2017 – 20 January 2021
Personal details
Born (1964-04-09) 9 April 1964 (age 60)
Jachie
NationalityGhanaian
Political partyNew Patriotic Party
Alma materKumasi High School
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
University of La Verne
OccupationPolitician

Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum (born 9 April 1964) is a Ghanaian politician and member of the eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, representing the Bosomtwe Constituency in the Ashanti Region[1] on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.[2] On 5 March 2021, Adutwum was appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo as the Minister of Education in Ghana.[3][4][5] He is noted for his unannounced visits to schools as means to effective monitoring and supervision.[6][7]

Early life and education

Yaw Osei Adutwum hails from Jachie in the Ashanti region of Ghana.[8] He obtained a bachelor's degree in Land Economy (Business Administration with a major in Real Estate) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology prior to migrating to the United States. He holds a master's degree in Education Management from the University of La Verne and a PhD in Educational Policy, Planning and Administration from the University of Southern California.[9][8][2][1] He had his secondary education at Kumasi High School in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, where he received his Advanced level education certificate.[10]

Career

In September 2004, he founded the New Designs Charter Schools in California, USA.[11][12][13]

Prior to that, he worked as a Mathematics and Information Technology teacher at the Manual Arts High School for ten years, and within this period, he founded the International Studies Academy, which served as a small learning community for students.[1][14][15] He also served as the lead math teacher in the USC/Manual Arts Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI).[1][14] He was also part of the task force established by the National Research Council for Career and Technical Education to develop a national model for career and technical education at the high school and College levels.[16][9][17][18]

On 9 September 2021, Adutwum was appointed as a member of the Advisory Board of the Capacity Building Center (CBC) in the School of Education and Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).[19][20]

Initiative

On 2022, he granted scholarships to 61 engineering and medical students from his constituency for the 2022 academic year.[21] With this initiative, the total number of students receiving the MP's scholarship for engineering and medicine reaches 91, inching closer to his goal of supporting 100 students within a 10-year timeframe.[22][23]

Politics

Adutwum is a member of the New Patriotic Party, representing the Bosomtwe constituency in the Ashanti Region of Ghana in the Seventh and Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.[2]

2016 election

He contested the Bosomtwe Constituency in the Ashanti region of Ghana on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party during the 2016 Ghanaian general election, He obtained 46,238 votes out of the total 54,144 votes cast representing 85.82%, while his closest contender, the then District Chief Executive (DCE) of the Bosomtwe District, Veronica Antwi-Adjei of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), had 7,215 votes, representing 13.39%.[24]

In the seventh parliament, Adutwum served on the Works and Housing and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Committees.

2020 election

Adutwum was re-elected as a member of parliament during the 2020 Ghanaian general election with 57,939 votes out of 68,327 total valid votes, representing 84.80%, over Priscilla Mercy Nketia of the National Democratic Congress who had 10, 388 votes representing 15.2% of the total valid votes.[25][26][27] He is a member of Members Holding Office of Profit Committee and the Employment and Social Welfare Committee of Parliament.[28]

2024 election

In 2024 election he retained his seat as he won the parliamentary seat for Bosomtwe Constituency against his opponent Abdullah Hamidu of the National Democratic Congress party.[29]

Minister for Education

Adutwum was made the substantive Minister for Education in 2021, having served as Deputy to Mathew Opoku Prempeh for four years in which he helped in the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy.[30][31]

STEM schools

Under the leadership of Adutwum, he sets out a plan to construct 35 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Senior High Schools (SHSs) and 5 STEM universities throughout the country. As a significant step towards this vision, 10 of these STEM SHSs were initiated in 2022.[32][33] This initiative promotes STEM education and provides students with specialized learning opportunities to excel in these critical fields.[34][35]

Awards

In 2019, he was voted the Best Performing Deputy Minister by two research bodies: the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) and FAKS Investigative Services.[36]

Personal life

Adutwum is married with a child. He is a Christian and worships at the Pentecost Church.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Yaw Osei Adutwum, Biography". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Parliament of Ghana". Parliament Of Ghana.
  3. ^ "Akufo-Addo swears in the first batch of Ministers". Akufo-Addo swears in the first batch of Ministers. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  4. ^ "We're on course with TVET promotion – Education Minister". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  5. ^ "STEM education key feature in model schools — Education Minister". Graphic Online. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Yaw Adutwum teaches Kwaso JHS students in an unannounced visit". MyJoyOnline. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Leading by example: Dep Education Minister takes students through Maths class". MyJoyOnline. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Ghana MPs - MP Details - Osei Adutwum, Yaw". GhanaMps. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum". Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  10. ^ "PERSONALITY PROFILE. CoEWJ Interview with Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Deputy Minister for Education. MP, Bosomtwe Constituency. » Colleges of Education News Portal". Colleges of Education News Portal. 3 August 2020. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  11. ^ "President of New Design Charter Schools Talls about my educational success". Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  12. ^ Oyiboke, Amen (23 March 2016). "President of New Designs Charter School Dr. Yaw Adutwum talks about educational success". Los Angeles Sentinel. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  13. ^ Bulmuo, Bruce Misbahu (12 February 2022). "Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum: A renowned educationist and minister of excellence". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  14. ^ a b "The Minister - Ministry of Education Ghana". 28 October 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  15. ^ Nartey, Laud (12 January 2021). "Make Adutwum the substantive Education Minister – Send Gh to Akufo-Addo". 3News.com. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  16. ^ "Yaw Osei Adutwum, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  17. ^ Online, Peace FM. "Meet Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum: The Teacher And Chief Servant". Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  18. ^ Abisoye, Adeyiga (3 May 2022). "Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum: Making Strides in Ghana's Educational Sector". African Leadership Magazine. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  19. ^ "Education Minister, Yaw Adutwum joins advisory board of the University of California". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  20. ^ "Education Minister, Yaw Adutwum joins advisory board of the University of California". Myjoyonline. 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  21. ^ Quist, Ebenezer Agbey (16 January 2022). "Ghanaian MP gives full scholarships & laptops to 61 students going to university". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Education Minister gives scholarships to 61 Engineering and Medical students from Bosomtwe". Myjoyonline. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  23. ^ "Adutwum Gives Scholarships To 61 Bosomtwe Students". DailyGuide Network. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  24. ^ FM, Peace. "2016 Election - Bosomtwe Constituency Results". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  25. ^ "Parliamentary Results for Bosomtwe". Mobile GhanaWeb. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  26. ^ FM, Peace. "2020 Election - Bosomtwe Constituency Results". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  27. ^ "Bosomtwe – Election Data Center – The Ghana Report". Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  28. ^ "Parliament of Ghana". www.parliament.gh. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  29. ^ "2024 Ghana Elections – Parliamentary Results | 3News". Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  30. ^ Editorial Staff (16 February 2021). "I'll still teach in classrooms if I become Education Minister - Adutwum". EducationWeb. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  31. ^ "As Education Minister, I'll consider myself a 'teacher-in-chief' Dr Adutwum". Myinfo Ghana. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  32. ^ "Govt to construct 35 STEM SHSs, 5 varsities – Educ Minister". Ghanaian Times. 13 December 2021.
  33. ^ FAAPA. "Government to open six new STEM schools this year-Minister – FAAPA ENG". Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  34. ^ GTonline (7 September 2022). "Take interest in STEM education – Dr Adutwum urges traditional leaders". Ghanaian Times. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  35. ^ Apinga, David (24 June 2023). "More STEM Centres Nearing Completion – Adutwum". The Ghana Report. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  36. ^ Kale-Dery, Severious (27 January 2020). "Adutwum voted Best Dep Minister 2019". Graphic Online. Retrieved 7 December 2020.