Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, recently shared the reasons behind his transition from academia to politics upon returning to Ghana from the United States.
Dr. Adutwum, who spent over a decade teaching mathematics in the U.S., decided to relocate after a meeting with then-candidate Akufo-Addo, who had visited California. Impressed by Dr. Adutwum’s accomplishments in the U.S., where he established three schools, Akufo-Addo encouraged him to return to Ghana and contribute to the development of the country’s education system.
During an event in Accra on Sunday, November 10, 2024, Dr. Adutwum explained that he entered politics because he feared that Akufo-Addo might forget about him if he won the 2016 elections.
“When Nana Addo told me he was bringing free SHS, and so I should come home and help with its implementation, I then went to one of my white counsellors to advise me on what to do. He told me, ‘Yaw, America can do without you, but maybe your country cannot do without you.’ It touched my heart, and I decided to come and help. But I told myself that this man is a politician; what if he forgets about me later when he wins power?
“So, I decided to also become a politician myself. So I contested to become an MP at Bosomtwi, where I won and came to Parliament. I was made a deputy minister of education and served under Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh for four years when the NPP won the 2016 election. I was later elevated to substantive minister when we won the 2020 election for me to implement the discussion I had with him in America. Ghanaians are witnesses to the tremendous work we have been able to do with the Free SHS programme.”
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum is credited for ensuring massive development in Ghana’s education sector, particularly with his emphasis on boosting the teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Credit: Ghanaweb.com
