Meet Frema: Ghana’s First Female Chief of Staff

Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare is the first female Chief of Staff in the history of Ghana.

She was appointed to the position by President Nana Akufo-Addo, when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took over Ghana’s government in January 2017 after the party won the 2016 presidential polls.

The Chief of Staff is primarily known as the coordinator of the supporting staff at the Presidency and the primary aide-de-camp of the President.

Frema is a development consultant and a labour and employment expert, with over four decades  of experience in these fields. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Science from the University of Ghana, and a Master’s degree in Foods, from the University of Guelph, Canada.

She was a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, from 1976-1982; Consultant for the United Nations in the ‘Women in Fisheries’ programme in countries such as Uganda, Ethiopia, Congo, Kenya and Namibia. She was also Deputy Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment from 2005 to 2008, under the government of President John Agyekum Kufuor.

Akosua Frema Osei-Opare was a two-term Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon. She is married with 4 children.