Prof. Nana Aba Amfo Takes Up A New Role As AAU Gender Equity Ambassador

The Association of African Universities (AAU) has named Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo its Ambassador for Social Inclusion and Gender Equity. The honor was given out during the opening of the 16th AAU Quadrennial General Conference, which had as its topic “Shaping the Future of Higher Education for Innovation and Sustainable Development of Africa” and was hosted at the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Rabat, Morocco.

Professor Amfo was honored by the AAU for her extraordinary contributions to the advancement of inclusive education, gender equity, and institutional reform in higher education throughout the continent, as well as her visionary leadership. Her groundbreaking position as the University of Ghana’s first female vice chancellor and her unwavering efforts to create policies that benefit women and underrepresented groups in academia were recognized in the citation.

The citation praised Prof. Amfo for her work incorporating equity concepts into the University of Ghana’s institutional governance and culture, characterizing her as “a champion for gender equity and social inclusion in African higher education.” Under her direction, the university has made gender-responsive policies a top priority, started female mentorship programs, and made structural adjustments to foster more welcoming administrative and academic settings.

She was also commended for leading important programs including Hotspot Comfort Zones, Classroom Modernization, and the One Student–One Laptop program, which have greatly improved student assistance and digital access. In addition to ensuring that no student is left behind in the quickly changing higher education landscape, these initiatives have improved the learning environment.

In addition to her institutional responsibilities, Prof. Amfo has been actively involved in continental discussions on inclusion and equality, advocating for structural changes and teamwork to create African institutions that are accessible, equitable, and sensitive to the needs of all students.

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In her capacity as the AAU Ambassador for Gender Equity and Social Inclusion, Professor Amfo will assist the Association in advancing inclusive practices, partnerships, and projects that promote gender equity and the involvement of underrepresented groups in African higher education systems.

Prof. Amfo was grateful to the AAU for the honor:

“I am grateful to the Association of African Universities for this honour. Together, we will continue to champion gender equity and social inclusion in higher education in Africa,” she stated.

She reaffirmed her commitment to supporting the AAU’s vision of strengthening inclusive practices across African higher education systems.

The AAU, established in 1967 and headquartered in Accra, Ghana, is the continental apex body for higher education institutions in Africa. It works to improve the quality of African higher education and strengthen its contribution to development through collaboration, capacity building, and policy advocacy. This recognition of Prof. Amfo as an AAU Ambassador reflects a strategic commitment to driving institutional transformation with a gender lens at its core.