Former Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has paid glowing tribute to the Chief of Staff, describing her as the most diligent person he has ever worked with.
Hon. Akosua Frema Osei Opare, he said, deserves a second term in office because she demonstrated her capacity as Chief of Staff during the first term administration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Ghana’s first female Chief of Staff, he said, discharged her duties with such diligence and credibility that retaining her in that office would be a plus for the administration.
Abu Jinapor, who won the Damongo Constituency seat in the Savannah Region for the New Patriot Party (NPP) in the 2020 Parliamentary Elections made the call on Asempa 94.7 FM’s prime time programme, Ekosiisen, on Tuesday 12th January 2021.
According to him, throughout her tenure, Madam Akosua Frema Osei Opare took absolute charge of her office, established strong working relationship with all appointees of the President and also maintained cordial working chemistry with the Office of the President and the Vice President.
Jinapor stated that as the first female Chief of Staff in the history of the Fourth Republic, she kept the busy business of the office of the President going without recording any scandal whatsoever in the first term of the Akufo-Addo administration.
“I worked with the Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Osei Opare. I was her deputy for four years and I do know that she is a very diligent woman.”
“She discharged her duties by paying attention to details and her work over the last four years speaks for itself,” Abu Jinapor told host of Ekosiisen.
“Due to her humility, deep knowledge and understanding of national issues and her working relationship with the President and the Vice President, the last four years of her work as Chief of Staff at the office of the President has been fruitful.
“She deserves to remain in office to continue to serve the President and the nation. I will be very surprised if President Akufo-Addo does not maintain Hon. Akosua Frema Osei Opare in office,” the first time lawmaker added.
Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings presenting the Ghana Women of the Year Honours; governance category by Glitz Africa to Hon Mrs Frema Opare
Her creation of the Political Affairs Directorate at the presidency helped bridged the hitherto gap between the presidency and political party faithful that ultimately eliminated the rancour and aggression that had existed between party faithful and the ruling class.
Interestingly under her tenure, the Presidency never overspent its budget, a feat very had to come by in the 4th Republic past administrations.
For such excellent delivery as the Chief of Staff, Madam Frema Opare received a number of honours including the Ghana Women of the Year Honours; governance category by Glitz Africa, and The Model African Woman of the Year 2019 Award by the ExLA Group.
The Youth Wing of the NPP also honoured her with a citation for her outstanding performance at the presidency and her immense support for the youth wing of the party.
For such sterling performance, is it any wonder there is serious clamour on the corridors of power for President Akufo-Addo to retain her as the Chief of Staff in his second term?
Her function of liaising between Civil Society Organizations, Chief Executive Officers, Managing Directors among many others earned a lot of trust for the government from the private sector and government agencies.
It is an established fact that the Akufo-Addo government has enjoyed the camaraderie with almost all state agencies and institutions that previous administrations have struggled with, which points directly to the effectiveness of the Chief of Staff.
Hon Frema Opare is poised and undaunted for the task ahead in the next term of the presidency of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo even if it only means maintaining and perfecting what she nurtured over the past four years.
It is poignant to note that as Ghana’s first female Chief of Staff, Auntie Frema has charted a new course for political appointment in Ghana’s political landscape and perhaps Africa.
Akosua Frema Osei-Opare is a development consultant and a labour and employment expert, with 40 years 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; a Consultant for the United Nations in the ‘Women in Fisheries’ programme in countries such as Uganda, Ethiopia, Congo, Kenya and Namibia.
She was also a Deputy Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment from 2005 to 2008, under the government of President John Agyekum Kufuor.
She was a two-term Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon.
She is married with 4 children.