UniMAC appoints Eric Opoku Mensah as substantive vice-chancellor

The University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Opoku Mensah as substantive Vice-Chancellor, effective 13th May 2024, after having served in an acting capacity as Vice-Chancellor since 8 February 2024, upon the retirement of the previous Vice-Chancellor, Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo. 

This decision was reached at the 1st Emergency Meeting of the Governing Council of UniMAC.

Opoku Mensah joined the erstwhile Ghana Institute of Journalism as the Deputy Rector of the Institute in August 2020. He rose through the rungs to become the Rector of the Institute upon the implementation of the UniMAC merger.

Opoku Mensah brings a visionary approach and high expertise in higher education management to his new role, having served as the Acting Rector and, later, Rector of the Institute of Journalism, a constituent institute of the University. His extensive background in academia and his leadership acumen position him uniquely to steer UniMAC into a new era of excellence.

He is driven by the vision to transform the university across various critical areas, including enhancing the overall student experience, expanding infrastructure to meet evolving needs, fostering a culture of cutting-edge research, and forging strategic international collaborations.

In his remarks to the staff of the Public Affairs Directorate of the University, Opoku Mensah stated, “I am honoured to assume the role of Vice-Chancellor at UniMAC and committed to driving positive change and progress.

The Management I will lead will ensure that UniMAC remains at the forefront of training professionals in the media, arts and communication disciplines by providing a dynamic and enriching environment for our students, faculty, and staff.”

Opoku Mensah has served the academic community with distinction for several years. He has a proven track record of leadership and innovation, exemplifying the core values of UniMAC through his dedication to academic excellence, research, and students welfare. His vision for higher education aligns seamlessly with the university’s commitment to fostering an environment that prepares students for success in the modern world.

The University Governing Council and the entire UniMAC community extend their heartfelt congratulations to Eric Opoku Mensah on his appointment as Vice-Chancellor. We are confident that under his capable leadership, UniMAC will continue to thrive and uphold its rightful reputation.

About UniMAC

The University of Media, Arts and Communication is the first public university in Ghana established by an Act of Parliament (Act 1059) which merges three specialised institutions comprising the erstwhile Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), Ghana Institute of Languages (GIL) and National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI).

PROFILE OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR 

Eric Opoku Mensah is a Rhetoric and Media Studies scholar and was the Acting Vice – Chancellor of the University of Media, Arts and Communication. 

Opoku Mensah holds Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) Degree and Master of Philosophy Degree in English Language from the University of Cape Coast. He completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in Rhetoric Studies at the Centre for Film and Media Studies, University of Cape Town, South Africa, where he focused his doctoral research on the political communication of Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

Opoku Mensah has a deep-seated interest in Dr. Nkrumah’s pan-African rhetorical enterprise, his rhetorical artefacts, their formations, and how they contributed to the creation of nationhood, citizenship in Ghana and Africa.

Opoku Mensah has participated in numerous international and local conferences and workshops in political rhetoric, communication studies and higher education workshops in Ghana, Africa, Europe, Asia and North America. He also serves as a reviewer for several local and international journals in rhetoric and communication studies.

Again, he serves as an External Assessor for the National Accreditation Board (NAB), now Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and as an External Examiner for some public and private universities in Ghana. He is a frequent visiting scholar at Uppsala University, Sweden. He has numerous peer-reviewed articles in both local and international journals.

Apart from his academic work, Opoku Mensah has considerable experience in Ghana’s higher education landscape in terms of policy framework and university union leadership. He has participated in numerous workshops and forums on higher education policy developments both locally and internationally.

He is also a past National President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG). He also served as Local President and Local Vice President of the University of Cape Coast chapter of UTAG.

He has served in various administrative positions and boards both at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), erstwhile Ghana Institute of journalism (GIJ) and the University of Media Arts and Communication (UniMAC).

At the Prof. Opoku Mensah served as member of the University of Cape Coast Governing Council, Academic Board, College Board, and two Faculty Boards (Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Biological Sciences), as well as the Head of Department of Communication Studies for two terms (2016-2020) and several other roles. He has a clear understanding of Ghana’s higher education policy framework and has participated in several workshops on the Ghana’s Tertiary Education Policy  and the University Bill.

Prof. Opoku Mensah has won several grants from the Swedish Council for Higher Education, Education International, Swedish National Bank, The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT) and Uppsala Forum for Democracy, Peace and Justice, among others.

At the National level, Prof. Opoku Mensah has served on the technical Committee of the Ministry of Information initiative on the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme since 2019. This national initiative has led to the training of over 100 journalists from all over Ghana.

Prof Opoku Mensah is married with children. He enjoys political debates and has an abiding love for Afro Beats.

Asaase Broadcasting Company broadcasts on radio via Asaase 99.5 in Accra, Asaase 98.5 in Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 in Tamale, Asaase 100.3 in Cape Coast, Asaase Pa 107.3 in Accra and our affiliates Azay FM 89.1 in Takoradi, Bawku FM 101.5 in Bawku, Bead FM 99.9 in Bimbilla, Mining City Radio 89.5 in Tarkwa, Nyatefe Radio 94.50 in Dzodze, Somuaa FM 89.9 in Gushegu, Stone City 90.7 in Ho and Wale FM 106.9 in Walewale.
Tune in to broadcasts online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn.
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995 (Accra), @asaase985ksi (Kumasi), @asaase997tamale (Tamale), @asaase1003 (Cape Coast) and AsaasePa1073
Instagram: asaaseradio995 (Accra), Asaase985ksi (Kumasi), asaase1003 (Cape Coast), asaase997tamale (Tamale) and Asaasepa107.3
LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995
TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5
Live streaming on facebook.com at asaase99.5 (Accra), asaase985ksi (Kumasi), Asaase100.3 (Cape Coast), asaase99.7 (Tamale) and AsaasePa107.3. Also on YouTube: AsaaseXtra.
Join the conversation. Call Accra (020 000 9951 or 054 888 8995) or WhatsApp (020 000 0995). Call Kumasi (059 415 7985) or WhatsApp (020 631 5260). Call or WhatsApp Cape Coast (059 388 2652).
#AsaaseRadio
#AsaasePa
#TheVoiceofOurLand