The West Africa nation of Ghana has its first ever female chief of staff, and she is a University of Guelph graduate.
Frema Osei-Opare was named to the position in early 2017 by newly elected President Nana Akufo-Addo. As chief of staff, Osei-Opare’s role is to coordinate the supporting staff of the presidency and serve as the primary aide to the president.
A labour and manpower expert, she was a two-term member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, and served from 2005 to 2008 as deputy minister in the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment while in the government of former president John Agyekum Kufuor.
Osei-Opare received her M.Sc. in the Department of Food Science from U of G in 1976. She entered graduate studies at the University after completing a bachelor of science degree in Home Science from the University of Ghana.
Upon returning to her homeland, she became a lecturer and department head of Home Science at the University of Ghana. She also served as director of ActionAid Ghana, an organization that supports the basic needs and rights of the poor.
Ghana’s seat of government and administrative center is in the capital, Accra, a city of roughly 1.6 million.