Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum

Also known as: Dr. Adutwum · Dr. Osei Adutwum · Hon. Dr. Osei Adutwum

Former Education Minister and MP for Bosomtwe who advocates for AI/STEM investment and has critiqued university programme relevance to labour market needs.

2026-04-272026-08-07

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

May 2026
7 MayJoy Online
… Kwabena Agyei Agyepong and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, as part of efforts to promote unity within the party. …
Afoko holds consultations with Bawumia, Akufo-Addo, Kufuor and others ahead of NPP conference
7 MayThe Chronicle
… Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, in what his team described as efforts to promote party cohesion. …
NPP Chair Race: Paul Afoko Buckles Down! … Meets Bawumia, Kufuor Et Al
April 2026
28 AprJoy Online
Former Education Minister and Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Yaw Osei Adutwum, has revealed that he did not grow up with defined childhood ambitions, citing limited exposure to professional role models in his rural upbringing. …
“I had no childhood dreams” — Dr Adutwum reflects on humble beginnings and education journey
27 AprJoy Online
Former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has opened up about his early life struggles, revealing how he engaged in several small businesses as a child, including selling kerosene in his village. …
‘I used to sell kerosene’ – Dr Adutwum reflects on childhood hustle
27 AprJoy Online
Former Education Minister and Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has shared how his childhood was shaped by farming, trade, and constant movement between two regions. …
I started farming at a young age – Dr Osei Adutwum reveals
27 AprJoy Online
Former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has shared an emotional story of sacrifice from his childhood, revealing how his younger brother gave up his only pig to help him continue his education. …
My younger brother sacrificed his only pig so I could go to school – Dr Adutwum
27 AprJoy Online
Former Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has shared a deeply personal account of his educational journey, describing how he became the first in his family to attend secondary school and the challenges that shaped his early years. …
‘I was the first to go to secondary school in my family’ – Dr Adutwum

Politics

Adutwum calls for AI and STEM investment at KNUST

The News

Former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has urged the government to prioritise investments in Artificial Intelligence, STEM, and robotics education, arguing that such interventions are crucial to Ghana's transformation agenda and economic competitiveness. He noted that KNUST's integration of AI into education, particularly in biomedical sciences, has potential to position Ghana among Africa's most innovative countries.

16 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 16 July

Adutwum calls for AI and STEM investment at KNUST
Former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has urged the government to prioritise investments in Artificial Intelligence, STEM, and robotics education, arguing that such interventions are crucial to Ghana's transformation agenda and economic competitiveness. He noted that KNUST's integration of AI into education, particularly in biomedical sciences, has potential to position Ghana among Africa's most innovative countries.
16 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 8 July

Opinion: Critic defends Dr. Osei Adutwum's critique of education quality
The author responds to Prof. Kwaku Asare's defence of university degrees, arguing that Dr. Osei Adutwum's critique targets intellectual rigour rather than specific programmes. The writer contends that degrees lacking critical thought and cognitive independence are useless to human development, regardless of employment prospects.
8 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 6 July

UTAG suspends nationwide strike after government commitments
The University Teachers Association of Ghana has suspended its planned July 6 nationwide strike following renewed talks with the government, citing concrete commitments and written assurances to address members' conditions of service. UTAG warned it would reinstate the strike if the government fails to fulfill its commitments.
6 July 2026 · Joy Online →
University degrees should build skills, not just jobs—Eduwatch
The Executive Director of Africa Education Watch has defended university education's value, arguing that degree programmes should be evaluated on the skills and competencies they impart to graduates, rather than whether they lead directly to specific jobs. His comments follow criticism of former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum over remarks describing some university programmes as "useless" and "degrees to nowhere".
6 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 5 July

University degrees should build skills, not just promise jobs
Africa Education Watch's executive director argues that university education's relevance should be measured by the practical skills graduates acquire rather than whether a programme leads directly to a specific job, following a debate over whether some university programmes are "useless."
5 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Graduate unemployment rooted in weak economy, not degree choice
Prof. Kwaku Asare has disputed suggestions that certain university programmes are irrelevant, arguing that Ghana's graduate unemployment is driven primarily by economic weakness rather than academic disciplines. He said that while universities must ensure programmes remain responsive to demand, employment opportunities are largely determined by the strength of the economy and industry's ability to create jobs.
5 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Former education minister's critique of development studies triggers debate
Former Minister of Education Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum recently called certain university programmes in Ghana, including Development Studies at the University for Development Studies, "university degree to nowhere" that fail to prepare graduates for the job market. An opinion piece argues this critique contradicts Adutwum's own emphasis on development and nation-building, and suggests development education expertise could have strengthened his ministry's work.
5 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Former minister questions relevance of some university programmes
Former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has called for a comprehensive review of university programmes in Ghana, arguing that many lack alignment with labour market needs and contribute to graduate unemployment. He criticised programmes such as Development Studies and BA Education (Non-Teaching), contending that universities should base admissions and programme offerings on national labour market assessments rather than simply increasing enrolment.
5 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Parliamentary committee raises alarm over high distance education fees
Members of Ghana's Parliamentary Select Committee on Education have expressed concern about exorbitant fees charged by universities for distance education programmes, asking the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to investigate. The committee noted the fees are unusually expensive compared to regular programmes and argued the trend was allowing universities to exploit the opportunity under the guise of expanding access to adults.
5 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 29 June

Parliamentary committee backs GTEC to clean tertiary education sector
Ghana's Parliamentary Select Committee on Education has endorsed the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission's efforts to protect academic integrity, citing concerns over the commercialisation of tertiary education certificates, including PhDs and degrees, and cases where universities arranged for people to write students' theses.
29 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 19 June

GES must fully activate GESIMS digital system
An opinion piece argues that the Ghana Education Service should stop using outdated paper-based administrative processes and instead fully activate GESIMS, the digital information management system launched in 2024, to eliminate unnecessary manual document submissions for teachers and administrators.
19 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 21 May

NPP flagbearer vows not to remove MPs over primary support
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP's presidential flagbearer, has assured Members of Parliament that he will not support efforts to remove MPs who did not back his bid during the party's presidential primaries. He called for party unity and dismissed suggestions of divisions within the NPP, stating the party must move forward as one united family.
21 May 2026 · Daily Guide →
Bawumia calls for NPP unity, denies faction divisions
NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has called for party unity, insisting there are no factions within the NPP despite internal political discussions following the party's 2024 election defeat. He assured party members that he will not support the removal of MPs based on perceived political alignments or lack of support during internal contests.
21 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 20 May

Bawumia urges NPP unity, rejects internal MP removal efforts
NPP Flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has called on party members and Minority MPs to avoid internal divisions and attempts to remove legislators based on factional loyalties, assuring the caucus he will not support removing MPs who did not back him in internal contests. He stressed the party must remain united as it repositions itself as a credible government-in-waiting after the 2024 electoral defeat.
20 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 8 May

Former Education Minister recounts Akufo-Addo meeting that brought him home
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, MP for Bosomtwe and former Education Minister, has recounted how an encounter with former President Nana Akufo-Addo in the United States, where Adutwum was building schools and leading Ghanaian community organizations, led to his decision to return to Ghana to help transform the education system.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Former minister cites missing education formula for WASSCE decline
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, former Education Minister, attributes the 2025 WASSCE results decline to the absence of a clear and structured education formula, arguing that sustained improvement requires a deliberate approach supported by data and consistent execution. He notes that during his tenure, WAEC reports were reviewed annually to identify learning gaps and guide targeted teacher training.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's governance transition system among world's weakest, Dr Adutwum says
Former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has criticised Ghana's system of political transition, arguing it is among the poorest globally and that frequent changes in leadership disrupt policy continuity and undermine reforms in critical sectors like education.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Dr Osei Adutwum recounts African stereotypes faced teaching in America
The MP for Bosomtwe and former Education Minister spent nearly a decade teaching mathematics and computer science in American high schools, where he encountered students' misconceptions about Africa, including questions about whether Africans live on trees and comments about his appearance.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Dr Osei Adutwum credits stranger's sponsorship with enabling brother's German education
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, MP for Bosomtwe and former Education Minister, recounted how an unexpected act of kindness from a stranger helped his younger brother secure sponsorship to study in Germany, which he said paved the way for his own journey to the United States.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Bawumia appoints former rivals as policy committee co-chairs
NPP Flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has appointed all four of his former presidential primary opponents as Co-Chairpersons of newly established party policy committees, in a move described by observers as strengthening internal cohesion and repositioning the party as a research-driven opposition force ahead of the 2028 elections.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 7 May

Afoko consults party leaders ahead of NPP conference
NPP National Chairman hopeful Awentami Paul Afoko is holding high-level consultations with former Vice President Bawumia, former Presidents Akufo-Addo and Kufuor, and other key party figures, as well as the five presidential primary aspirants, ahead of the party's upcoming National Delegates Conference. Afoko, who previously served as NPP National Chairman from 2014 to 2015, is campaigning on a 3R Agenda (Reunite, Rebuild, Recapture) aimed at returning the party to power in 2028 following its 2024 election defeat.
7 May 2026 · Joy Online →
NPP chair hopeful Paul Afoko meets senior party figures
NPP National Chairman hopeful Awentami Paul Afoko has held high-level consultations with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former Presidents Akufo-Addo and Kufuor, and Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, as part of a unity-driven campaign ahead of the party's National Delegates Conference following its 2024 electoral defeat.
7 May 2026 · The Chronicle →

Tuesday 28 April

Dr Adutwum recalls rural upbringing without childhood career ambitions
Former Education Minister Yaw Osei Adutwum has reflected on his humble beginnings in a village with limited exposure to professional role models, saying he had no defined childhood dreams. He credited his father's emphasis on education and personal example for shaping his path.
28 April 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 27 April

Former Education Minister reflects on childhood business ventures
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum shared his early entrepreneurial experiences, including selling kerosene in bulk and retailing it in smaller quantities during a time when his village had no electricity, as well as snail hunting and basket-weaving. He noted that customers often bought kerosene on credit and delayed payment.
27 April 2026 · Joy Online →
Dr Osei Adutwum grew up in cocoa farming family
Former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum spent his childhood between Ashanti and Western regions, where his parents farmed cocoa in Wasa Amenfi. He attended Jachie Anglican Primary School but spent school vacations helping on his father's cocoa plantation, gaining early hands-on experience in the crop.
27 April 2026 · Joy Online →
Former minister recalls brother's pig sacrifice for secondary school
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has shared how his younger brother sold his only pig to help raise GH₵40 needed for his secondary school deposit after their father struggled to secure the amount through loans.
27 April 2026 · Joy Online →
Former Education Minister shares secondary school journey
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, former Minister of Education and MP for Bosomtwe, recalled becoming the first in his family to attend secondary school, describing the challenges of navigating the system as a village boy and the financial hardships that forced him to attend as a day student at Jachie Pramso Senior High School, studying General Arts with Mathematics and French electives.
27 April 2026 · Joy Online →