THIS IS YOUR LIFE
PROFESSOR JOPHUS ANAMUAH-MENSAH Bsc;BSc.Ed;Msc;PhD;OV
(Narration by Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Afful-Broni Head of Department Psychology &
Education; Chaplain, UEW)
Jophus Ato Anamuah – Mensah, He were born on March 27, 1947 to the Anona abusua of Cape Coast.
He attended the local Catholic Jubilee Primary and the St. Augustine’s Practice Middle Schools in Cape Coast.
Her secondary education was at Ghana National College, Cape Coast. The current headmaster, Mr. Robert
Kooson-Barnes has these records compiled from archives to share as well as two of Her former colleagues.
Professor Jophus Anamuah Mensah was among a group of 138 students admitted into Form one in Ghana
National College in September, 1960 during the headship of the late Mr. J. J. Mensah-Kane. Initially, he was
a day student but he later won a scholarship that brought him to the Boarding House. He was in House 2
now Kwesi House.
Academically, he was a brilliant student who showed great brilliance in his favourite subjects, Chemistry and
Biology.
Character-wise, he was above board. Available records on him show that he was well-behaved, humble,
respectful and affable.
His impressive academic performance gained him GAPMB scholarship in 1963 to continue his secondary
education.
In 1965, he sat for the School Certificate/General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level Examination
conducted by the West African Examinations Council and came out successfully.
He returned to his alma mater i.e. Ghana National College in the same year to pursue a two-year sixth form
course in Chemistry, Biology and Pure Maths.
His ambition while he was in the Sixth Form was to be a teacher. After the Sixth Form, he gained admission
to the then University College of Cape Coast, now University of Cape Coast, and completed in … it was little
wonder that he was offered a teaching assistantship in the same University, thus paving the way for him to
launch his career – to become a teacher.
After completing his studies at the Masters’ and Doctorate levels, he returned to the University of Cape Coast
and took up a lectureship there. As a lecturer he demonstrated a high degree of intellection and a strong
commitment to the pursuit of knowledge.
He reached the pinnacle of his career when he was appointed first the Principal of the then newly-established
University College of Education of Winneba, and later the very first Vice Chancellor, a position he held
admirably and successfully till his retirement.
Professor Anamuah-Mensah was always a great source of inspiration to the staff and students of Ghana
National College and his simple life story teaches all of us a simple lesson – that no matter how humble or
deprived one’s background, one can rise to any heights one desires if only one is ready to aspire and perspire
for it.
1
Classmate Ghana National College: Prof. Ato Delaquis’ recollection
I first got to know the Professor during secondary schooling when we were about 13 to 14 years old. We
were the first batch of 1st year Ghana National College students to be accommodated in new buildings in 1960
at the present site.
So far as I can recollect, the first years at secondary school were not easy for Ato. Although he comes from
one of the oldest distinguished families in Cape Coast in the traditional fishing industry by way of Chief
Anamuah-Mensah (Known also as Chief Bos’n) the distinguished Chief was no more the affluent personality
he used to be known.
Although he later grew to be the robust and stout type of physique we know him now, Ato in his mid
adolescence was very thin and though tall, he was not in the best of health. In fact, his health rendered him
absent from classes constantly. During his first 3 years in school one would not have considered him capable
of becoming in the future of top university professor and a long-term Vice-Chancellor.
His situation must have taken a dramatic turn during our third year (1963) when we had to choose our
academic subjects in preparation for the G.C.E. exams in the 5th of Final Year. I had previously always
considered him as an average student but when he made his choice in science he must have made
tremendous progress in this discipline. This implies that the 3rd Year and 5th: Year at school were the period
that Ato quietly began to assert himself in the academic ladder by discreetly studying hard.
His health improved and he became less reserved and more out-going. Some of his closest friends were
S.S.M. Nyarko (who later became an affluent timber contractor) and Kofi Edrisah-Aidoo) (Now a Professor of
Biology at University of Glasgow).
One engaging characteristic of Ato during his 5 year secondary schooling was his way of walking. It was a
stylish gait that was very pleasant to watch. I don’t think he himself was aware of this trait and that his style
of walking drew all kings of admiration.
Ato passed the G.C.E. exams in Science with flying colours and moved to the same school for the 6 th form. It
was during this period that I left to continue my education in sixth form at Achimota School.
After Form 5 Ato never looked back but soared higher and higher in the academic ladder till he gained Ed.D
and Professor as well as Vice-Chancellorship.
Throughout his life he had a cheerful and engaging personality and it might be these positive traits, propped
by a loving supporting wife, that have placed him in the highest level of the University hierarchy.
Professor Kofi Edirisah-Aidoo - Strathclyde & Caledonian Universities, Glasgow;
aka Supi Kofi Eqyirakwa IV, Enyan Obontser, Okokodo and Onyadze
I have known Professor Anamuah-Mensah since the early 1950’s when we started school at Catholic Jubilee
School, Cape Coast. We started Class 1 (Primary 1) in Mrs. Ntow’s class and spent 8 eventful and highly
rewarding years. At Jubilee School we often walked to school together and attended church regularly on
Sundays, failure to attend the latter meant the lashes or ‘the cane’. These were the days of Fathers DeRoy
and Saunders at the Roman Catholic Church, who not only visited the school every Friday to ensure regular
attendance at mass on Sundays but also the homes of pupils attending Catholic schools. Of course, we
played truant but our heads were screwed on the we knew what we wanted at the end of the day. We both
sat the common entrance examinations and started Ghana National College (‘National’) at ‘M’enya m’en wu’
(after all I didn’t die) in September 1960.
Professor Anamuah-Mensah showed academic prowess at the early age of his academic and professional
career. At ‘National’, his effort, diligence and hard work resulted in excellent grades both at Ordinary and
Advanced levels. After 7 years at ‘National’ we parted company and he started his post secondary education
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at the University of Cape Coast. After graduation he was appointed a lecturer and after few years went to
Canada to do his doctorate degree. After his Ed.D, he returned to Cape Coast University where he rose
through the ranks due to hard work, dedication and commitment to reach academic peerage, professorship.
After years at a senior position at Cape Coast University, he was appointment Vice-Chancellor at this
University.
In addition to being a distinguished academician, Professor Anamuah-Mensah has been and continues to be
instrumental in keeping education at the top of the Government’s agenda which eventually resulted in being
appointed the first Vice Chancellor at this University. He has done an enormous amount to promote
enterprise in research and education in Ghana.
Professor Anamuah-Mensah is recognised as a distinguished academic both nationally and internationally has
served on many Boards. His integrity and fairness won him the trust, admiration and support of colleagues to
implement far-sighted policies in education in Ghana. This was recognised by the Government in 2006 when
he was subsequently awarded the highest honour bestowed on any Ghanaian, the Order of the Volta.
Today as we celebrate the retirement of Professor Anamuah-Mensah, we have to remember the support, love
and care that he received from his mother and father and from his wife, Mrs. Bea Anamuah-Mensah, their 5
children and 6 grandchildren. He has many friends who would like to join me in wishing him well on this
memorable occasion. I am sure that Professor Anamuah-Mensah will continue to support the development of
education in Ghana at his retirement.
Ato, well done. He have served Her country well; He have made Her family and friends proud. On behalf of
Her family (immediate and extended) and many friends both home and abroad, I would like to wish He a very
happy retirement.
From there He pursued BSc (Ed) and B.Sc at University
College of Cape Coast. Her classmate shares with us some
memories of Her time at University College of Cape Coast as
student
fond
a
In 1972 He
were
appointed a teaching assistant at Her alma mater and later
He were awarded a scholarship to study abroad, precisely at
University of British Columbia.
3
In October 1981, He returned to the University of Cape Coast and joined the teaching staff. One of Her
former students (Joseph Eshun-Famiyeh) shares his experiences of having He as his lecturer.
Dr. Anamuah-Mensah, as we his students called him, taught for many years in the Department of Science
Education at the University of Cape Coast and I am fortunate to have been one of his numerous students. As
a lecturer Professor Anamuah-Mensah taught several courses as there were very few lecturers in the
department. He also taught Research Methods, which was his favourite course.
In class we the student found him to be on top of every subject matter that he treated. He was always
prepared for every lesson and believed in the maxim that students learn from “the known to the unknown”.
His lesson will never come to an end without giving us an assignment which was to be handed in the next
day. He believed in hard work and did not encourage idling or wasting of precious time and because he did
not want us to be ‘fooling’ in the hall he always ended his lessons with an assignment. I must say here that
these assignments were promptly marked and the appropriate feedback was given to us. May be due to the
fact that in those days there were only between four and ten students in a class he could give assignments
more often and score them promptly. I am not quite sure he would have been able to the same now when
there are over a hundred and fifty science education students in a class.
We the students admired Professor Anamuah-Mensah not only for his academic brilliance but also for his
simplicity. Prof would come to lectures in his smart blue jeans trousers and a T-shirt to march. Prof detested
cutting lectures. When he had to be absent from lectures he would not forget to send us the assignment for
the day. He would also make arrangements for the lessons missed to be taught at a later date.
I also had the opportunity to be a Teaching Assistant of Professor Anamuah-Mensah and there I and my
colleague experienced his generosity. Prof asked us to go along the coastal stretch of the country to collect
Ghanaian children toys and games. We also had to describe the mathematical and scientific concepts
involved in the use of these toys and in the games. When we had done all there was to do they were
packaged and sent to Makarere University for an exhibition. As we did this project little did we know that we
were going to receive any money. But lo and behold we did! One warm afternoon while we were working on
another project Prof sent for us. At first we grumbled and thought that we were going to be given another
task to do when we had not finished an earlier one. When we arrived at Prof’s office he pulled out a drawer
and brought out a brown envelop and said “everything in there is for He, He’ve worked for it”. We could not
believe our eyes when we saw the contents of the envelope.
The Prof was so concerned with students’ progress especially in the area of research. A special mention is
made of a graduate student whose principal supervisor was away on Sabbatical leave. When Prof heard of
this student’s plight he asked him to give a copy of his thesis to him. The student submitted the copy of his
thesis to Prof at about 4.00 p.m. and by 9.00 a.m. the next morning Prof had finished reading through and
given his comments. This enabled the student to present his final thesis on time.
The virtues and value we learnt from our former lecturer were many. The most outstanding ones are
honesty, hard work, tolerance and the fact that we should respect other people’s opinion.
Prof we the students He taught salute He as He leave active service in the university.
As teacher and a researcher, He are credited with many publications. Prof. E.C. Quaye and Dr. D. K. Mereku,
members of the research team give testimony of Her flair for research:
Ato or 'Wegya', as I affectionately refer to him, simply loves doing research and publishing articles in
various journals. Thus, it came as no surprise to me when he became a full Professor in 1998. In that same
year, a book I and two others co-authored with him was published. At this point in time I thought Ato had
reached the climax of his academic career and therefore would probably not be motivated to do any more
research or continue to publish. I was dead wrong! Rather, at this juncture, he was already contemplating a
sequel to the book, "Science in Action - A Resource Book for Science Teachers" that had just been released.
Indeed, he put a research team together for data collection and in 2005, the expected sequel, "Science in
Action - Student's Workbook" co-authored with three others, was also published.
4
The two books mentioned above resulted from a project, Science and Technology in Action in Ghana
(STAG) that Ato initiated with funding from AFCLIST. He believed that the science taught in our secondary
schools should be linked to medium- to high-tech industries located in the country for students to
appreciate the relevance of the science they learn in school to industrial processes and products, hence
science in action.
As a science educator, Ato was always looking for solutions to the myriad of problems associated with both
the teaching and learning of science in Ghana, especially at the pre-tertiary level. One such problem he
identified was the lack of contextualization of science taught in the basic and secondary schools in the
country. In other words, he recognized a yawning gap between the science that pupils and students learn
at school and the application of scientific principles and concepts in indigenous or traditional technologies in
the Ghanaian society. To bridge this gap, Ato thought school science should be made more relevant and
community based. He worked incessantly on this idea till he obtained funding from NORRAD to establish a
Centre for School and Community Science and Technology Studies (SACOST) at the University of Education,
Winneba in 2000.
One of the major objectives of the Centre is to develop local resource materials for the teaching and
learning of science in basic and secondary schools in the country. A lot of such materials have already been
developed at the Centre. Presently, under a TALIF research project, a number of science handbooks based
on indigenous knowledge and its application in the operations of local micro- to medium-scale industries
have been developed at SACOST but are yet to be field-tested for use by science teachers in pre-tertiary
institutions in the country. In addition to his numerous duties, Ato still finds time to participate actively in
this project. So am I right in saying that this man simply loves doing research? Prove me wrong if He can!
Dr. D.K. Mereku
I have known Professor as a researcher since 1990 from the University of Leeds, Centre for Mathematics and
Science Education (CMSE). Professor began his sabbatical the same year that I began my Ph.D Study at the
CMSE in the Leeds University. He had then joined a team of seasoned researchers at the CSME who were
then engaged in studies on primary and secondary schools students’ understanding of certain basic science
concepts in England, particularly in the Yorkshire County. His interest to improve science education in Ghana
grew stronger and stronger as he participated in this project. He extended his sabbatical for an additional six
months to develop a proposal with his colleagues at the CSME to replicate the study in Ghana, the outcomes
of which were the ‘Science in Action’ curriculum materials developed for schools in Ghana.
When he took up the appointment as Chief Executive of this institution in 1998, his vision was to make UEW a
university of excellence in not only in teaching and learning, but also in research, particularly in Science,
Technology and Mathematics (STM). He set up the Centre for School and Community Science and
Technology Studies (SACOST), to serve as a pan-African research and material development centre and to
promote community science and technology in African schools. As the Director of the Centre, he worked
tirelessly with researchers within the university and in Africa to develop several multimedia teaching and
learning materials and approaches that link school and community science and technology. He has through
the centre organized several workshops, some international and others local, on themes such as ‘Education
for sustainable Development’ and ‘Contextualization of science and technology education’.
I personally learnt a lot from him as a result of my participation in SACOST activities, which had made me to
cultivate relevant research competence, publication proficiency and quality knowledge about how to improve
research culture among staff and promote scholarly publications. Professor Anamuah-Mensah is the editor in
chief of the ‘African Journal of Educational Studies in Maths and Science’ (AJESMS), which is published by the
centre, and takes time off his heavy schedule to review several of the articles.
Professor Anamuah-Mensah, is great a visionary and a man of inspiration; he welcomes peoples ideas,
encourages them to develop proposals and supports them to trial the ideas. He shared my view that the
university had been very slow in responding to the challenge of upgrading certificate ‘A’ teachers upgraded
will not leave the basic level. The committee’s report led on the one hand to the shift in focus of the
5
university’s distance education programme to offer the INSET diploma in Basic Education, and on the other
had to the establishment of the Basic Education and later the Early Childhood Care Education programmes.
He also looked at the proposal I wrote for the ‘out-year component’ of the 4-year in-in-in-out B.Ed
Programme. This he submitted for Academic Board’s consideration after slight modifications. The proposal
became the blueprint for the Out Segment Programme, which later became known as the UEW Student
Internship Programme (SIP) based on a School-University partnership approach.
What I remember him most for is his diligence and perseverance which he displays when carrying out a team
activity. He is always with the team and participates fully in all activities when it comes to group research.
He demonstrated these qualities when I worked with him in the following team activities development of the
university’s Corporate Strategic Plan, development of proposals for funding from Carnegie Corporation and
TALIF, and the writing of the country report for the TIMSS-2003
One thing I will never forget about him is his unique commitment to accomplish an academic task on
schedule even at the expense of his heavy schedule, health and family commitment. He demonstrated this
unique quality on December 28, 2004 when we had to complete the TIMSS-2003 country report. He joined
Dr. Asabere Ameyaw and I at 11.00 a.m. and worked till 1.00 a.m. the net day without food. We had to
leave around 1.30 a.m. after third call from the wife.
Professor Anamuah-Mensah and I also participated in the 1st African Regional Conference of Vice-Chancellors,
Provosts, and Deans of Science, Engineering and Technology (CODIVOST), held in Accra 15-17th November,
2005 and presented a paper on ‘What Foundation is Africa Building its Science and Technology Base?: Africa’s
Participation in TIMSS-2003: a consequence of the basic school mathematics curriculum’ in May 2005.
Professor is the team leader for the Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D)
research projects in Ghana. He is also the leader of the Consortium for Research on Educational Access,
Transitions and Equity (CREATE) Ghana team, which is currently involved in research as well as developing a
newsletter on issues of educational access.
Publications with him
Anamuah-Mensah, J., Mereku, D. K. and Asabere-Ameyaw A. (2004) Ghanaian Junior Secondary School
Students’ Achievement in Mathematics and
Science: Results from Ghana’s participation in the 2003
Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, Accra: Ministry of Education Heth and Sports.
Anamuah-Mensah, J and Mereku, D. K. (2005)
‘Ghanaian JSS2 students’ abysmal mathematics achievement in TIMSS-2003: a consequence of the basic
school mathematics curriculum’ Mathematics Connection Vol.5, www.ajol.info/journal/mchtm (pp.1 –
13)
Anamuah-Mensah, J and Mereku, D. K. (2005)
‘On What Foundation is Africa Building its Science and Technology Base?: Africa’s Participation in TIMSS-2003’
Proceedings of the 1st African Regional Conference of Vice-Chancellors, Provosts, and Deans of Science,
Engineering and Technology p110-117.
By dint of hard work, He rose through the ranks of lecturer to senior lecturer then to Associate Professor and
in 1998 as a full Professor. Ayekoo, He have set the pace for which future Nananom and UCC Alumni will like
to emulate.
Prof. Jophus Anamuah–Mensah He were the first alumnus to become a Head of Department, a Dean and ProVice Chancellor at the University of Cape Coast and Vice-Chancellor, UEW. Very Rev. Prof. S.K. Adjepong
former Vice-Chancellor UCC and currently Principal MUCG teastimonial on VC’s roles at University of Cape
Coast.
6
I have known Prof. Jophus
Mensah since his student days
University of Cape Coast (UCC).
friends a few months after I had
Academic staff of UCC in 1966.
then a final year Chemistry
Anamuahat the
We became
joined the
Jophus was
Student.
Jophus joined the staff of UCC
the Department of Science
he had completed his poststudies in Canada. Our
continued and blossomed. We
brothers. Our nuclear families
one family. When we both
Cape coast Chapter of the full
Business Men’s Fellowship
(FGBMF) we studied the Bible,
worshipped God together.
as a Lecturer in
Education after
graduate
friendship
now relate as
also relate as
joined the
Gospel
International
prayed and
During my tenure as ViceChancellor
Jophus became the Dean of the
Faculty of
Education and after Pro-ViceChancellor. As
Dean, he was very hard working
and dedicated.
He provided very good
leadership at
the Faculty and contributed
immensely to
the growth of the faculty during
his tenure. He
always full of innovative ideas. He initiated the project “Science and Technology in Action in Ghana (STAG)”.
The project led to the production of a very useful reference book on applications of Science and Technology
in rustic industries in Ghana.
It was a great pleasure for me to work with Prof. Anamuah-Mensah as the third Pro-Vice Chancellor of UCC.
He was very loyal, dedicated and hardworking. He was also a very good advisor to me. He took on
additional responsibilities in good cheer and was on hand any time he was needed. He was always prepared
to do the extra mile. As an Alumnus of UCC, his love for his Alma Mater was amply demonstrated in his work.
He had an uncompromisable determination to ensure that the good name of UCC was upheld at all times.
The humbly and modesty of Prof. Anamuah-mensah are infections as to say the least. Out of modesty, he
did not apply for the position of principal of the University of Education of Winneba at time the post was
advertised.
Prof. Anamuah-Mensah demonstrated sterling leadership qualities during his tenure first ad Head of
Department next as Dean and finally as pro-Vice Chancellor at UCC.
I am therefore, not surprised at all that he had provided excellent academic and administrative leadership in
the nine years he had served as Principal/Vice Chancellor at the University of Education, Winneba. I wish him
God’s continued blessings and Guidance in his future endeavours.
Following the heels of Prof. N. Pecku, former Dean, Faculty of Education, UCC and first
Principal, University College of Education, Winneba; in 1998, He became the Principal
of the University College of Education, Winneba and in 2004 Vice Chancellor. Her
brilliant ideas and quest for innovation saw He formulating and implementing a
corporate strategic plan to chart the affairs of the University. Her administrative skills
are manifested in the testimonial given by the former registrar Mr. Justice Nii
7
Aryeetey and one of the vice-principals/pro-vice chancellors, Professor S. M.
Quartey whom He worked with.
I have known Professor Anamuah-Mensah over the last two decades from the University of Cape Coast and
the University of Education, Winneba where I worked as University Administrator and he as a Teacher and
Administrator. But it was at the University of Education, Winneba that I got closer to him.
As the Registrar of UEW I was his Chief Advisor on matters relating to the general management of the
institution. I had great respect for him for his academic leadership. Once he got settled in UEW he ensured
that the University’s forward march towards academic excellence encountered no setbacks. He never looked
back even in the face of difficult problems and challenges.
The phenomenal increase in the number of new programmes both at the undergraduate and graduate levels
attest to his academic vision and proactivity. He encouraged and facilitated the training, and development
and upgrading of all categories of staff.
As an Administrator he patiently listened to everybody, staff and students alike. For the seven years that I
worked with him, I never for a moment saw him angry even though many issues that were brought before
him called for brute and rugged treatment. When the Registrar was bursting with rage and anger and
expected the Vice-Chancellor to be in a similar mood, he displayed his characteristic calmness and firmness
resulting in eventual diffusion of tension.
Jophus harboured no ill feeling against anyone not even those who through diverse ways sought to discredit
and embarrass him. His gentle disposition and infectious smiles worked like a magnet that drew many to his
side. He spoke no evil and treated his working colleagues equally and fairly. He was quick to accept any
errors he committed.
I enjoyed every
bit of my
working relationship with him and I had no regrets having him as my Principal and Vice-Chancellor.
Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah became the 2nd Principal of the University College of Education, Winneba
when Professor Pecku retired in September 1998. I was then the Dean of the Faculty of General Cultural and
Social Studies and therefore worked closely with him on assumption of office.
I was highly enthused by his stock of ideas and his vision for the future development of the University when
he first met the lecturers and administrators at the Assembly Hall. He emphasized on the need for research,
promotions and the formation of the collegiate system. The Faculty of General Cultural and Social Studies
bought these ideas and implemented them.
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On the resignation of Professor Brown-Acquaye from the Office of the Vice-Principal in 2001, I was appointed
to that position and I really enjoyed working directly under Professor Anamuah-Mensah. Professor AnamuahMensah initiated the Sandwich Top up Degree Programme when the Ministry refused to grant study leave to
our Diploma students for One Year Top up. He initiated the Out-Segment Programme which is now named
Student Internship Programme. I was made to chair a Committee for the mounting of the Programme. As a
new programme, I greatly enjoyed the long sessions I had with Professor Anamuah-Mensah on the
Programme and the brilliant ideas which continued to guide the University on the implementation of the
Programme. I recount with joy and amazement when he called my attention to the need for Reflective
Practice and Personal Philosophy of Education by each student. In fact these new ideas seemed impossible to
me but as we discussed the need for these and why most teachers in Ghana deteriorate with the years, I
became convinced about the essence of these in the programme.
Professor Anamuah-Mensah initiated the establishment of the Basic Education Department when he realized
that the various Departments are concentrating on training graduates for the Secondary Schools and Teacher
Training Colleges. The problems we encountered in the implementation of the programme emanated directly
from the other Departments when they realized that the training of teachers for the Junior Secondary had
been taken away from them by the establishment of the Basic Education Department.
Professor Anamuah-Mensah will forever be remembered by the Paper he shared with the University Council
which culminated into the development of the five-year strategic plan for the Universtiy between 2003 and
2008. Because of his heavy schedule, I was made the Chairman of the Committee but I had constant
discussions with him in order to have his vision materialised. Unlike many other Universities which had to
appoint a consultant to design the Strategic Plan, the Strategic Plan of UEW was done by local brains led of
cause by Prof. Anamuah-Mensah without any foreign or local Consultant. And surprisingly enough Carnegie
adjudged the Plan to be excellent.
The introduction of ICT and the on-line registration process in the University were initiated by Professor
Anamuah-Mensah. And I recollect how delighted we were when he made a power point presentation on the
state of the University’s readiness for autonomy when the Accreditation Board visited the University.
Professor Anamuah-Mensah did not merely initiat but he led the war to change the University from manuals
to ICT.
Professor Anamuah-Mensah was able to lead the University in sourcing for funds through various proposal
writings. And through this the University has a cream of people who have become experts in Proposal
Writing. During his first term of office he was able to source for various funds from GETFUND, Carnegie,
TALIF and such funds have greatly assisted the University in implementing its programmes.
The period under Professor Anamuah-Mensah has seen the University grow both physically and spiritually into
a full University. The period has seen many of the lecturers getting their doctorate degrees and many others
promoted to full Professorship, Associate Professorship and Senior lectureship levels. Interestingly, some of
the products of the University have been absorbed into the University as lecturers through his encouragement
and the establishment of the Post-Graduate School.
The achievements of Professor Anamuah-Mensah at this University can hardly be captured given the
shortness of time at our disposal. The establishment of CEPS, Continuing Education Centre, Quality
Assurance Centre, The Institutional Advancement Centre etc are all his making. But it will be enough to
remember how honest Professor Anamuah-Mensah was, how dedicated and hard working he was and how he
himself offered leadership in whatever he wanted done.
Professor Anamuah-Mensah is a true visionary and an implementer. Under him, UEW has reached great
heights. We thank God for giving the University such a Vice-Chancellor. May God continue to bless He and
enrich He forever.
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Under Her leadership the
University
College
of
Education,
Winneba
attained
autonomous
status in 2004
and assumed
the
name
University
of
Education,
Winneba.
University of
Education is
made up of
three
campuses:
Winneba,
Kumasi and
Mampong.
The two
satellite
campuses have
seen some
expansion in
facilities and
mounting of
new
programmes
under Her leadership. Professors S. Sobotie and A.K. Tuah give glowing testimonial to the growth of the two
campuses under Her tenure of office.
Professor Jophus Ato Anamuah-Mensah, He have demonstrated unmatched leadership to the University of
Education, Winneba, which includes the College of Technology Education, Kumasi. Her hard work and
relentless efforts saw the University College attaining autonomous status by an Act of Parliament in 2004,
(Act 672, 2004), which culminated in the upgrading of the Kumasi Campus to the status of a College of the
University of Education, Winneba.
1
0
The Kumasi Campus was integrated into the University College in 1996, with one faculty, (the Faculty of
Applied Arts and Technology Education), with two departments, (the Department of Technology Education
and the Department of Business Education) and a Unit, (Services Unit) now Department of Interdisciplinary
Studies.
Under Her effective leadership, the college has seen a tremendous transfonnation in all dimensions. The
College of Technology Education can now boast of two faculties - the Faculty of Technology Education and
the Faculty of Business Education. Under these are five (5) Departments and a Section, which are as below:
FACULTY OF BUSINESS EDUCATION

The Department of Accounting Education,

The Department of Management Education,

The Department of Technology Education,
FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

The Department of Information Technology Education, and

The Department of Inter-disciplinary studies.

Vocation /Technical Education.
During Her term as Vice Chancellor, there was a tremendous increase of enrolment in the College. He have
also strategically, increased access to tertiary education in the College by the introduction of part-time
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Bachelor of Science in Administration (BSc) programmes,
which attracted many Ghanaians, especially workers, who otherwise would not have made it to the University
to benefit from this initiative.
Her intervention also led to the collaboration between the Lulea University of Technology in Sweden and the
College of Technology Education to successfully introduce the first higher degree programme, MSc in
Marketting and E-Commerce, on the campus, last Semester.
The College would also admit students to begin an MPhil programme in Wood Technology, in September
2007. The preparatory stage would not have been completed without Her personal support and
encouragement.
Professor Anamuah-Mensah, with He in control of affairs, the College has seen appreciable infrastructural
development, which include;
7* a standard Lecture Theatre, ". a modem library block, an office complex for academic staff, residential
accommodation facilities for staff and students, '* a spacious car park for staff, students and guests, and a
general face-lift of the College.
Staff strength has been improved significantly to enhance academic and administrative work. The number of
Senior Lecturers in the College has been increased significantly since the University attained autonomous
status. There are teaching assistants in all the Departments to ensure that academic work progressed even in
the absence of a particular lecturer.
The number of official vehicles for the College has increased. The College can now boast of a fleet of vehicles
with each Department having its own means of transport. This is a feather in Her cap.
He are a man of great discipline and this reflects in the output of staff and students of this College. At least,
the competence and character portrayed by the products of this University speak for themselves.
My interaction with He since He assumed office as Vice Chancellor shows that He are a true Christian who
would want to see other people progress in life. Her words of encouragement inspired me and my team on
the Kumasi Campus to give out their best for the University. The silver umbilical cord between He and the
College of Technology Education would never be severed.
Finally, Jophus, He have been a very good, reliable and reasonable friend in the development and
administration of the University and Kumasi Campus in particular. I cherish Her friendliness. I hope to
maintain this friendship and would readily consult He at all times.
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Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, He are a man of val our, vision, and vigour. He are a true leader. He are
a man who sets standards. Her achievements are boldly written in the skies, and would forever be
remembered.
On 1st January, 1996, the former St. Andrews College was formally integrated into the University College of
Education of Winneba as the Department of Agriculture Education and later Faculty of Agriculture Education.
When the University College attained autonomous status in 2004, the College of Agriculture Education was
established with the Faculty, comprising of five academic departments, under it.
In October, 1998, Professor Jophus Anamuah Mensah was appointed the Principal of the then University
College and with his appointment he set into motion a number of strategic arrangements to transform the
physical infrastructure and academic programmes of the then University College. Culminating in the elevation
of the University College into a fully-fledged University, known as the University of Education, Winneba. With
the granting of autonomous status, the title Principal changed to Vice-Chancellor and Professor AnamuahMensah became the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba.
In fact, the elevation of the Department of Agriculture Education into a College status, with a Faculty and five
academic departments, constituted part of the strategic transformation of the university initiated by Professor
Anamuah-Mensah on his assumption of duty first, as Principal and subsequently as Vice-Chancellor.
Today, the College of Agriculture Education is experiencing massive infrastructural development with the
assistance of the GETFund and other development partners. One could therefore count completed projects
like an Office Block, a New Lecture Hall, a Feedmill, and a Sports Complex. Other projects under construction
are a Library Complex, a 400-bed Students’ Hostel, Bungalows and the rehabilitation and extension of the old
College Chapel for multipurpose use.
Academic programmes have been restructured from 3-year Diploma and 2-year post-diploma programmes in
Agriculture Education into a 4-year Bachelor of Agriculture Education programme. In the 2006/2007
academic year, a 4-year B.Ed programme in Integrated Science and 2-year MPhil programme in some
disciplines of Agriculture Science were introduced. With the restructuring and introduction of new academic
programmes, student numbers also increased. The College as at present has a student population of 1,1000
as compared to about 509 during the 1999/2000 academic year.
Of course, as an agricultural institution, one could not discount the need to expand and improve the farms.
From the period of October, 2000 to date, the farms of the College have been expanded and improved to the
extent that teaching, learning and research activities of both students and Lecturers have been enhanced.
The College can boast of:
8ha/20 acreage of Cocoa
2ha/5 acreage of Cashew
0.4ha/1 acreage of Citrus
1.6ha/4 acreage of Oil Palm
7ha/17.7 acreage of Mangoes
Professor Anamuah-Mensah also put in place a vigorous programme of staff training and development during
his tenure. The ripple effect of this was that both teaching and non-teaching staff of the College of
Agriculture Education have benefited from study leave with pay to upgrade themselves and also to enrich
their skills.
Looking at the initiatives, put in place by Professor Anamuah-Mensah, together with his visionary, inspiring
and effective academic leadership, the College is poised to live up to its vision of becoming “a pre-eminent
institution recognized worldwide for Teaching Education in Agriculture Science and Agroforestry”
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The entire student body, faculty and staff recognize Her immense contributions to the growth of University of
Education, Winneba. Let me begin that I have worked severally with our Vice Chancellor as a Member of the
SRC in 2003/4 academic year before finally working with him as the President of Graduate Students (200617).
I will tell my experiences with him in very clear unequivocal terms without any prejudice.
Our Vice Chancellor was a father to student leadership. We call our Vice Chancellor daddy because he was
like a father to student leadership. He was a distinguished administrator who has an approachable
personality. One significant thing about VC has been his respect for student leadership. I will give three
instances to prove this point:
One day I requested audience with the Vice Chancellor on phone to discuss a few issues. In spite of the fact
that he was attending a meeting of Vice Chancellors at that same time he granted the audience.
I called Vice Chancellor on phone one morning and requested him to meet the national executives of the
Graduate students association. He postponed his attendance at an AAU meeting to attend to us.
He calls to seek students' OpInIOn on projects and programmes within the University, particularly when those
projects directly impact on students.
I remember that in 2003 there was a discussion at the SRC General Assembly seeking members view on the
Vice Chancellor's continued stay in office or otherwise. The votes were unanimous. Vice Chancellor has very
good management and administrative prowess. He is open and frank. He tells He what is possible and what is
not. There is a way he welcomes students which diffuses our anger and vexation with which we enter his
office. This was why students' protests were minimal during his tenure.
We wish our Vice Chancellor a happy retirement. We loved to work with him and it is our hope that his
successor will be like him or more than him.
Daddy God bless He and keep He because wherever He are Ghana may continuously need Her services.
UTAG considers the occasion of the retirement of Professor Anamuah-Mensah to be that which should
afford the Association the opportunity to rededicate itself to the noble ideals which he stood for as ViceChancellor and which have constituted a source of inspiration to UT AG as a body of academics.
It would take too much space to recount the rich and diversified legacy which Professor Anamuah-Mensah
has bequeathed to UTAG in particular and to UEW in general. Suffice it therefore to mention a few which
are of particular importance and interest to the Association.
UTAG is particularly appreciative of the quality of leadership which Professor Anamuah-Mensah exhibited,
and which made it possible for this University to make great strides in image enhancement. Thanks to him,
UEW has acquired the enviable reputation as a unique institution which produces scholars and educationists
who are fully responsive to the realities and exigencies of contemporary Ghana, and indeed of the West
African sub region.
It is an undeniable fact that research activities on the various Campuses of the University gained
tremendous momentum as a result of his personal encouragement, and the awareness he created of the
"publish or perish" principle. The result is evident, judging from the tremendous increase in the number of
Senior Lecturers and Professors over the past few years.
Throughout his administration, UTAG had a cordial relationship with Management. Anybody who is familiar
with the peculiar psychology of academics will admit that this was an exceptional achievement. He
abundantly demonstrated that the university administrator cannot be content with little ideas which do not
upset fellow academics. As a good leader of a tertiary institution, he was aware that great ideas generate
resentment and threaten vested interests and therefore need tactful management. He marvellously handled
this daunting challenge.
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Professor Anamuah-Mensah founded his administration on the conviction that a leader of an academic
community should consider himself as a "transmission belt" of concepts about the total development of the
human person, about the relationship between progress and the various facets of existence. He was aware
that such a leader is a designer of change in various areas of human activity. These are qualities which
UTAG admires in Professor Anamuah-Mensah and which will continue to guide this Heng University as it
faces the future.
In conclusion, it is gratifying to say that although he could not attend UTAG meetings most of the time and
thereby participate in its routine activities due to his very tight schedule of activities, he always kept in
touch with whatever concerned the welfare of the Association. He gave UTAG all the support possible
during its negotiations for better conditions of service.
UTAG is happy that he will be back in the University community after he has taken a few months of a well
deserved rest. His active presence among us will enable UTAG members to continue to partake of his
wisdom and rich experience as they gather occasionally to promote a socialization ethic, as they interact
with each other to share a wide range of views on issues affecting not only UT AG but the entire nation.
The University Teachers Association of Ghana, University of Education, Winneba wishes Professor
Anamuah-Mensah all the best that life offers.
 Comments on Professor Anamuah-Mensah by TEWU
Labour is happy to note that the Vice Chancellor, Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, realised that, not
being attentive to labour would be a threat for effective, efficient and uninterrupted administration and
management of UEW and productivity in general. He also observed that injustice in the distribution of profit
or wealth is again another threat to justice in this establishment. These two facts helped He, Brother V. C.
to successfully managed labour for a successful UEW. That was wisdom because Management and labour
are caught in an inescapable network of maturity, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one
directly, affects all indirectly. This opinion was made when at the first Committee of (Public) Universities
Local Union Executives Conference at UEW in 2006.
He added further that Management and labour are living symbiotically and as such matters of concern
should be addressed through peaceful negotiation and not violent industrial action. Resorting to
antagonistic behaviour shall break bonds. We (Labour) saw these words in action. It was always seen in Her
nonviolent approach to conflict or grievance resolutions. He always resorted to collection of facts to
determine whether injustices existed, negotiations, self-purifications and then taken a direct action.
Brother Vice Chancellor for the development of this our noble University He have personally helped to
attract and retain the numbers and types of employees required to operate UEW not only to be a University
of excellence for pre-eminent teacher Education in Ghana but most importantly one of the best higher
institutions of learning in Africa and the whole wide world.
Again the Teachers Educational Workers Union (TEWU) is also a witness to Her effort at; playing a positive
role in motivating workers to perform to the best of their abilities.
 helping to provide opportunities both local and foreign for workers at many level to achieve their
reasonable aspirations in a frame work of equity, impartiality and reason.
 the Vice Chancellor, Ghana (where He are among the founding fathers), He were involved in plans for
designing a realistic and effective policy on remuneration and an appropriate set of techniques and
methods of executing a sound pay administration in the Public Universities in Ghana.
 the bottom of it all He are pushing and to maintain the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in a
reasonably competitive position among institutions of higher learning,
Our best moments with He were when He at times left the pleasures of riding in Her Land Cruiser and walk
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to the office or the house or on way to perform a function. He stopped here and there interacting with
some of the workers to see how we labour was contributing to the achievement of the goals of the
University or how decisions arrived at was gett,ing to the bottom, This we termed "Anamuah has come to
the ground level to see things for himself", This normally informed He during Her evaluations of decisions
made.
Brother Vice Chancellor, Member of the Order of the Volta, looking at Her contribution and achievements for
labour and UEW time and space cannot contain our praises for He.
All we can say is thank He for all He did for the promotion of good Labour relations.
He always looked at how the best interests of the employee and UEW could be served.
For this He will continue to be a role model for many of us. God bless He and Her family.
(Brother Vice Chancellor We Shall Continue To Support Good Labour Practices At University of
Education, Winneba).
On Her investiture as Vice-Chancellor Adomina’s appellation was performed.
He have chaired several committees nationally and internationally. He were the former President of Ghana
Association of Science Teachers (GAST). In 2006, the government of Ghana also recognized Her immense
contribution to the development of education in the country and awarded He the Order of the Volta, one of
the highest awards of the nation.
Professor Anamuah-Mensah He joined GAST as for back as 1974 when He were a student at the Science
Education Department of the University of Cape Coast.
He maintained keen interest in GAST, it was therefore not surprising that when He returned home after
studying for Her Doctorate degree He were appointed the chairman of the GAST Publication Board and the
Chairman for the Editorial Board. He worked with Her
team to ensure that the GAST Journal was published
regularly. As a result of Her hard work and interest in
GAST affairs He were elected the President of the
Association from 1987 – 1989. He saw the need to
reward members of the Association who have
contributed immensely to the growth of GAST and
development of Science Education in Ghana. It was
therefore during Her tenure of office as President that
the Association awarded fellows to three of its past
officers.
After Her tenure of office He continued to participate
in GAST programmes at regional and national levels.
It was this that urged GAST to honour He with ‘Fellow
of GAST’ in 1996. Professor, GAST will always talk
about Her keen interest in science project
development by student’s and Science Fair and
innovations.
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Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah eminent, science educationist at local and international levels, GAST is
proud to have had He as a member and president of the Association.
We will always cherish Her contribute and pieces of advice towards the growth of GAST and the development
of Science Education.
We trust that He will continue to support GAST.
We love and appreciate He. Due to Her innovative ideas and quest to have higher education reached many
people in Ghana, UEW has attracted and given affiliation to a number of colleges. JAYEE Institute an
affiliate college shares their testimonial of Her good work.
Through He, Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, Jayee Institute at McCarthy Hill, Accra, has also become
an institution of Higher Education specializing in Business Administration, Media and Communication
studies. Thus writing the history of Jayee Institute for that matter, a tertiary institution, would not be
complete without mentioning of the immense contribution He have both personally and officially put in to
make (Jayee) what how it is now.
He effectively supervised the structures to be put in place for the institution to qualify, by the Standards of
the National Accreditation Board, a tertiary institution. He emphasized on staff recruitment, training and
development; the restructuring and the designing of new and marketable courses; expansion of physical
structures; sharing experience, personal advise to me as the chief administrator of the institute. Her very
presence on the campus during matriculation and congregation gave the students, staff and Jayee in
general status, sense of pride and belongingness.
Prof., Her value to us as a mentor has gone far beyond our greatest expectation. He are indeed among the
very best we have known. Her patience, intelligence and good problem solving skills will continue to be a
source of inspiration to us as we build Jayee into a University.
My very brother Prof., we at Jayee Institute, wish to take this fine occasion to express our gratitude in the
work He have done to promote Education in Ghana generally, UEW which He succeeded in nursing from a
college to the first only teachers University in Africa and to indeed to Jayee Institute in particular. He have
here helped put Jayee on a pedestal towards the full attainment of a future University which shall continue
to emphasis the study of Business Administration, Media and Communication subjects. Studies here shall be
so structured to be practical and compatible with the human resource needs of our dear nation Ghana in
particular.
Let me humbly add that He have made it possible for UEW and Jayee Institute to combine and run degree
programs. As I speak now Jayee is preparing to upgrade and run a degree programmes in Media and
Communication studies (MCS). Such products of ours shall continue to read Master of Philosophy in MCS at
UEW. This we see, is going to strengthen further the relationship He have helped built between UEW and
Jayee.
Prof., Jayee Institute would want to ask for another favour from He. He are moving out of active service;
but we say continue to have our welfare on Her mind, our progress on He heart and continue to allow Her
spirit and guardian angel too to guide and guard Jayee on its march to achieve heights. Our actual request
here is make Her doors open to us for we shall always come to He once there is a problem we believe He
can help us solve.
We also have in our immediate plans to establish a Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Chair at Jayee
Institute to recognize personalities like He who have brought innovations and achievements in Education.
We shall also have a Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Excellent Award for the over all best graduating
students from our institute every year.
Please when the time comes for us to institute these two statutes He will give us the permission to carryon.
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Finally, staff and students of Jayee express our heartfelt gratitude for given us the opportunity to fraternize
with He and sincerely wish He all the best in Her retirement life.
On my own personal behalf I pray He to let the bond of unity and brotherhood that came between us when
we met in Form One and through to Upper Six at Ghana National College, Cape Coast continue to stay. Lets
us continue to enjoy the mutual benefit that is coming from this relationship. In society some are born to be
pillars to others, some are propellers and some are role models for others to follow. But lucky He are all to
me and I believe to many others gathered here. He are not selfish and are prepared to help anybody who is
interested to reach greater heights. Her offer is for all without regard to race, pride or prejudice.
I say thank He for all He have done for me. May God bless He to have a warm, wonderful; happy and
fruitful future. Prof. "Ayekoo", congratulations. We pray that He share this blessing and glory with Her wife
and children. They have being very supportive in Her life.
"Mo ne adwuma!
At the tail end of Her career, a new Registrar and new Pro-Vice Chancellor were appointed and elected into
office. My association with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor J. Anamuah-Mensah began in 1998 when he was
appointed Principal. As Secretary to the Appointments and Promotions Board of which he was the Chairman,
I interacted frequently with him. I found him to be humble, honest and straightforward. He recognised my
expertise in Human Resource Management and sought my advice before taking major decisions in that
direction and this I find very remarkable.
To my surprise despite the fact that he was not my immediate supervisor, he had confidence in me and
recognised the potential that I had as a future leader. This is manifested in the fact that on two occasions
when the newly established Presbyterian University College wanted my services, Professor Anamuah-Mensah
refused to release me, even to go on sabbatical leave appointment. He told me, “C. Y. He are one of the few
experienced administrators UEW had groomed and we would not allow He to go”.
I must say I have not regretted my decision to stay at UEW and listen to wise counsel from my ViceChancellor.
When by the grace of God I became the Registrar of the University, Professor Anamuah-Mensah called me
and said ‘C. Y. I want He to do something
unique. Arrange a meeting of all Principal
Officers and Deans, Directors and Deputy
Registrars and share Her vision for the
Registry with us’. I must say this has
helped all of us in the Registry, because at
the end of the year, we were able to meet
to evaluate our performances and set
target for the following year.
Since I began working closely with
Professor his advice has been: ‘He must be
different, be unique don’t do things the
usual way and be satisfied’. He is always
there to encourage and push for
excellence. In November of 2006, he gave
me one major task, to enrol on a PhD.
programme by Distance. When I was
dragging my feet, he called me again and
asked, ‘have He enrolled on the
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programme? I know He can do it so go ahead.
I must say I have not disappointed him and I want him to be proud of me some day.
I am proud to share a last name with the great scholar, researcher and administrator and I am also ‘blessed’
to share a scary experience with him on November 26, 2006 when we nearly had a plane crash on our way to
Jamaica.
Ode to Prof. Anamuah-Mensah, OV by Prof. Akwasi Asabere Ameyaw (ProVice Chancellor)
Sometimes in life, He find a special friend;
someone who changes Her life
just by being part of it.
Someone who makes He laugh
until He can’t stop;
someone who makes He believe
that there really is good in the world.
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Someone who convinces He
that there really is an unlocked door
just waiting for He to open it. (Unknown)
The above poem just captures all that I can say about Prof. Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, Vice-Chancellor of
UEW under whose last tenure in office I served as the third Pro-Vice Chancellor.
My mentor, a man of great vision and an astute administrator, who brought this gift to bear on all aspects of
UEW life. I wish He a happy retirement.
Ayeekoo.
Waye bi!!!!
Her benefaction have been countless and Her love for others shown in many ways. Four of Her godchildren
(Francis Godwyll, Rev. De Graft Johnson, Idun Acquah and Joshua Mallet) and two of Her friends
have these to say.
I got to know Professor Anamuah-Mensah then Dr. Anamuah-Mensah in my years as an undergraduate
student of the Faculty of Education at the University of Cape Coast. At that time students in the Science
Education Department foundly referred to him as the man who returned from Canada with a Golf car and a
pick up truck. We were told he was very hard working and would even do business with his pick-up truck by
getting water from far away Biriwa to sell and yet attend all his classes and take good care of his students by
attending to their project works, these and other assignments. At this point my knowledge of him was distant
and through third parties.
After I graduated with my masters and began to teach first as an Assistant Lecturer at University of Cape
Coast I came closer to him but it was still distant. I remember one day I met him in the corridors of the
building that used to house the Institute of Education of UCC and he stopped briefly to talk to me and asked
me to find time to visit him in the house so we could talk. Unfortunately I could not make good this open
invitation because of my “galamsay activities.”
Through his dynamism as the Dean of the Faculty of Education at UCC he worked with others to secure the
USAID/IIR grant that brought CRIQPEG into being which lifted a Faculty that had been living in the shadows
so far as grant activities were concerned into the lime light and also into national prominence. I was invited
upon assumption of duty in June 1993 to join the CRIQPEG team and later elevated to team leader. Our
weekly meetings with him as the Dean created more opportunities for me to get closer to him. I grew very
close to him and the family like a son and in fact I refer to him as my father now that my biological father is
no more. He is also the god father of my first daughter this man drew people to him who were at best
strangers and made them friends and loved ones. In my association with him I have seen this cycle repeat
itself again and again with many of the people he worked with. He has a big heart. This is the man we are
bidding farewell to as he goes on retirement.
He is a visionary, hardworking, fair minded and a focused person who genuinely care for the well being of the
people who work with him. He works tirelessly to help promote them. As Dean and Head of Science
Education he built the first computer lab among all the academic departments of UCC.
Many of us teaching faculty saw him as the rising star and I remember one time going to his office while he
was a Dean and telling him that he needed to consolidate the gains he had made in the Faculty and ensure
that the foundation he lays is strong since there is a potential in him to be a Vice-Chancellor and his record of
work as a Dean will be critical in that evaluative process. I was therefore not surprised that he won elections
to become Pro Vice-Chancellor of UCC, then appointed as Principal of University College of Education,
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Winneba and nursed it into a full University and served as the Vice-Chancellor. The exponential growth of
this University under his tenure – ship is no mean achievement.
The achievements of Professor Anamuah-Mensah at Winneba cannot be overemphasized. His extensive
scholarship, worldwide contacts, effable nature, genuine interest in the welfare of others have robbed off on
the image and prestige the Winneba enjoys among her peer institutions. A Vice-Chancellor who will use his
contacts to bring publishers to his institution to assist faculty in the nuances of publishing as well as contract
with them to write textbooks is rare.
His exemplary academic leadership has created an enabling environment that has allowed the upward
mobility of faculty at a rate unparallel by any of Winneba’s peers. Professor Anamuah-Mensah leaves an
enviable legacy that speaks for itself. If all of us decided to keep quiet and not say it the stones, the grass,
the trees and the sea waves of the South, Central, North, Kumasi, Mampong will cry out and say “Ayekooo,
mbo na edwuma”.
I first saw Prof. Jophus Anamuah-Mensah and his wife as they walked into the prayer session of the Full
Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship Cape Coast Chapter meeting. The meeting was then held at the St. Paul’s
Presbyterian Church in the late 1980s. The couple walked in with grace marked with humility and took their
seats in the mid session of the chapel. The meeting ended and they were welcomed from their trip to the UK
(Leeds University). They caught my attention that day.
Subsequently, Uncle Ato and Auntie Bea (as I have since come to know and call them) became my
acquaintance and then to be my parents in the right sense of the word. Uncle Ato and Auntie Bea took me
through each step through my preparation to marriage and have been our support since then. Indeed, our
first-born son, Papa Anamuah, is named after Ato of whom both are proud.
The couple, Jophus and Beatrice did not only provide financial and material support but most importantly
moral and prayer support from the very day we met. Our bonds of relationship have grown far beyond Uncle
Ato and Auntie Bea to encompass both the nucleus and extended families on both sides.
Prof Jophus Anamuah-Mensah is a very affable person who personifies humility in the true sense of the word.
He is soft spoken and always wears smile even when he is stressing a very serious point that shoul merit a
frown. He is not a person pleaser but always ensures also that in all his dealings, relationships area not
strained. A deep and critical thinker that he is reflects so much in his physical composure. He is very
prayerful; an attitude that he has come to acquire through years of practice and experience.
As an academic, Jophus is not arrogant. When I entered the University of Cape Coast to pursue my
Master degree, Prof. Anamuah-Mensah made available to me a wealth of material research area. Although I
was not in his Faculty, he selflessly read part of my work and provided very useful suggestions include
reading references to enrich my work. When I seemed to ask very dump questions about psychosocial
measurement in research, Uncle Ato took his time to explain step-by-step how some of these measurements
are described, made and reported upon. No wonder his time in the University of Education, Winneba
has seen a marked advancement in research and research-related activities in the University.
The Anamuah-Mensah family is a Christian family by all definitions and standards. Every member of the
family is taught and encouraged to make Christ their anchor. This is done not only in words but also more
importantly in practice. No wander the family id a very close knit one; ‘’A family that prays together stays
together.’’
We cannot sing the praises of Jophus Anamuah-Mensah because he is very mortal but the words of the
Hymnist is true; ‘’ if God praises, what are men?’’ That is what can be a summary of the person of Prof.
Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, a father and mentor of excellence.
Rev. Kofi de-Graft Johnson
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Though I may not be able to provide a detailed account of the work of Professor
Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, yet during the period of my association with him, I may be
able to contribute to the testimony of this man as I know him. When great stories are
told of great personalities, there is always room for all who lived in that generation to
contribute their versions … and this is what I will attempt to contribute.
My first formal encounter with Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah was at Cape Coast where he was then Pro
Vice-Chancellor. As I sat with him and my SKEM (my Boss at that time from IEDE), I immediately saw in him
the characteristics of a great leader and I pondered over the thought that perhaps he was already underutilised in society. When he therefore became the Principal of the then UCEW as successor to yet another
man of vision – Professor Nathaniel Kofi Pecku – I knew there was something in store for education in Ghana.
The first outstanding quality I saw in Professor Anamuah-Mensah at Winneba was the spirit of continuity he
carried along toward the foundations laid by his immediate past predecessor Professor Pecku. In addition I
found him to be as accessible as Professor Pecku was and so I resolved to welcome his ideologies, work for
him and win his attention for my own little vision of education.
I have heartily and pleasantly served Professor Anamuah-Mensah on a number of occasions, though not
many, in his research work at SACOST. But where I enjoyed working for and with him the most has been in
the field on Open and Distance Learning (ODL). This man believed in me more that I could have imagined
and he would often ask me what my thoughts were regarding the furtherance of distance education at IEDE.
When the College finally acquired full autonomy as a university, I think every member of the distance
education team saw hope and progress for the new university. I would like to place on record only four of
the long list of major achievements our first Vice-Chancellor led us into and with which I was very closely
associated. These include:

the expansion of the distance education programmes at IEDE;

the introduction of a Bachelor of Education Degree TVET programme by distance education on our
Kumasi campus (with massive support from the Commonwealth of Learning – COL);

a revolutionary move to install a dedicated satellite for UEW thus paving the way for the introduction
and the pioneering of ODL/ICT programmes of activity at UEW and for the national and international
education communities;

the efforts being put in place to institutionalise the President’s special initiative on Distance Learning
(PSI-DL) so that it best serve the purpose for which it was established.
I would not want to comment further on these four areas of operation as collaboration with COL in all four
areas in still in progress.
Professor Anamuah-Mensah is a mentor, comforter, leader and a source of strength in education. Since my
joining COL, Professor has provided me with a platform for partnership and progress. He is personally and
particularly involved an on-going project by COL and the Commission of ECOWAS for the training of
entrepreneurs through ICT. He is the first to be appointed to serve as COL Focal Point for Ghana and, thanks
to him, UEW and for that matter Ghana was the first country in Africa to bestow an honourary doctorate
degree on Sir John Daniel, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth of Learning.
When the time comes for Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah to bid adieu to UEW and move on to become
the first past Vice-Chancellor, history will remember a man of vision who came on the scene for a brief
moment and yet achieved great feats. Ghana will remember a scholar who led in the transformation of
education at a national level. UEW will remember a VC who brought development to a Heng university. I, on
my part, will remember a Father who gave me confidence to carry on.
In all Her achievements, He have acknowledged Christ Jesus. This is one of Her
favourite texts, “For lack of knowledge my people perish”. Bro. Edwin Asamoah says:
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A gospel song in Fante titled “Nsohwe bi aye madru”
aptly describes what He went through during Her search
for a saving knowledge to resolve some strange
experiences viz Her own sickness, Her daughter’s
unexplainable prolonged ill-health, land litigation and
snakes in Her office. These led He to strange places to
meet strange people who offered unscientific,
unscriptural unwholesome spiritual solutions.
Her research mind and desire finally responded to
invitation to Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship
International (FGBMFI), Cape Coast chapter’s dinner at
Cape Coast University in 1987. That is where He finally
stepped by faith into what He describe as the ‘cocoon of
the Blood and life of Jesus”, where solutions to life
problems are found, where He have stayed to date and
that has made all the difference that indeed for lack of
the right knowledge people perish.
From then Her concern for others to come to the full knowledge of the Savoir Jesus made He virtually invite
the whole of the Faculty of Education to FGBMFI monthly meetings, under Her sponsorship, where the
Happiest people on earth serve others in spite of their position. He are like Matthew, the tax collector, who
invited men of his profession to taste and see that the Lord is good indeed. It was not surprising that in 1995
He and a core group of members of the Fellowship planned and established the Cape Vars Chapter on the
Campus. Here too He chalked one of Her firsts as the first President of the Chapter, and even from Her new
post in Winneba helped to celebrate its 10th Anniversary in December 2005 in style.
Beyond that He and Her family opened Her home on Grace Hill, Ankaful Road for what is now the yearly 31 st
December retreat for all the chapters in Cape Coast and Elmina at which He teach and exhort with spiritual
knowledge.
Again beyond Cape Coast and Elmina He have spoken at FGBMFI chapters around the country where Her
testimony of being a Chief Fisherman’s son saved by grace to become a Professor of Science Education and a
Christian has moved many to surrender to Christ, the wisdom of God, for they also to climb to higher heights.
Brother Professor, Her life of knowledge and worship of God confirms Solomon’s wisdom expressed in
Proverbs 22:29 (NIV). “Do He know a diligent man? He will stand before kings, not before mean men”.
In spite of the height that He have attained, Her search for spiritual knowledge to share with others, lest they
perish, continues as a unique Catholic, servant of Jesus, an example and encourager of Christians.
As we celebrate Her life we join He to sing one of Her favourite local worship song:
Yeda w’aseoo, yeyi wayoew Ohen kese ee Haa allelujah
Ewuradze Yesu ee, ahen fo hon hen ….
Prof. Vice- Chancellor He could not have achieved these laurels without the support of Her wife Beatrice and
Children. Below is their testimonial:
To Daddy: Our Hero
He stand tall among men
Any yet even then
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He don’t hesitate to bend
To help others find their feet
He have constantly pursued excellence
For Herself and for others too
We are glad to follow in that path
Daunting though it may seem
For He have shown us and
Taught us how to lean on God’s arm
For He has been Her strength
And so shall he be ours
A wise man has said that a life is not significant except for its impact on others. Without a shadow of doubt
He have had both a successful and significant career, for while He have strived to attain nothing short of
excellence for Her personal life He have tried even harder to improve the lives of theirs, knowing that God
created He to be a channel of blessing.
And yet in the midst of Her busy schedule Her busy schedule Her family has always been the centre of Her
life. He have touched our lives like a bright beam of light. He have loved and cared for us. He have made
us smile and laugh and told us we are Her little boys and girls no matter how old we grow in age. He have
impacted our lives and have been instrumental in forming our image of God. He have taught us to pray and
showed us by example the way God wants us to live. He are the embodiment of honesty, composure,
compassion and protection and so He’re taught us to love, to trust, to be charitable, hardworking and honest.
He share Her wisdom with us and always encourage us to pursue our dreams.
Daddy, words cannot express what we really want to say for our love for He grows everyday. He have been
our inspiration, our biggest cheerleader, our mentor and our friend.
Her selflessness and integrity lived before us each day, have been a challenge for us to emulate. In deed He
have sown the seeds of greatness in our lives and in the lives of all those dear ones who love to call He
Daddy!
We admire Her strength and thank God that He have touched our lives the way He have. He are the best
daddy anybody could ever hope for. We applaud He with a standing ovation.
Daddy, for us He will always be a hero!
As He reach this milestone, we thank The Sovereign Lord for Her life. The one who has been Her strength
and who has enabled He to walk on the heights in Her career and given He success especially here at UEW.
And to the most charming, wonderful woman daddy could ever have, He indeed deserve an applause too for
He have groomed a gem. Thank He mama for being daddy’s loyal and loving wife. Companion, prayer
partner, and friend.
Finally, we say: “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord His trust, who does not look to the proud, to those
who turn aside to false gods”.
(Psalm 40:4)
Whatever Her dreams and plans for the days ahead we want to remind He that:
“…The Lord God is a Sun and Shield;
The Lord bestows favour and honour;
No good thing does He withhold
From those whose walk is blameless”.
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Daddy, ayeekoo! Mo ne yo!
Our
Special
Grandpa,
He are a
man of
patience and Kindness
Deep in our heart is a special place
Where our love for He is kept.
We just want to let He know
He mean the world to us.
Only a heart as dear as Hers
Would give to all of us so unselfishly
The many things He have done
All our birthday parties He have attended
Make us know deep down inside
How very much He care
Ifs fun when we struggle to
Sit on Her lap at the same time
And we love it when He call each one of us by our pet names
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Know today that He are
Its fun when we struggle to
Sit on Her lap at the same time
And we love it when He call each one of us by our pet names
Know today that He are
The best grandpa in the whole world.
Grandpa, we can’t wait for He to retire
So that on holidays, we can take long walks in the gardens of Green Hill
And sit at Her feet to listen to all the wonderful tales of old.
As He retire, we know God is opening another door
Another season of service for He
For RETIREMENT only means:
R
E
T
I
R
E
M
E
N
T
-
Reaping the fruits of Her good labour
Exploring new frontiers
Trusting God’s leading
Imparting knowledge to the next generation
Resting in God’s Love
Enjoying more time with grandchildren
Mentoring others
Establishing new relationships
Nurturing Her family
Taking Life to the next level of victory!
Grandpa ye ma wo ayeekoo! May the favour and blessing of God always be Her portion! We love He.
Nana Aku, Papa Anamuah, Hyihyi, Princey, Jophus Jnr. Naa Shidaa…………!
Prof. Jophus Anamuah – Mensah, Vice-Chancellor, Order of the Volta, today we salute He and wish He God’s
profound blessings.
THIS IS HeR LIFE.
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