From classroom to campaign trail: The journey of Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum’s road to NPP presidential primaries
As the New Patriotic Party (NPP) prepares for its pivotal January 31, 2026, presidential primaries, one contender’s blend of educational transformation and political ambition is capturing attention across Ghana’s political landscape.
He is Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Bosomtwe MP and former Minister of Education whose journey from humble beginnings to national leadership contender reads like a narrative of perseverance, passion, and purpose.
Born on 9 April 1964 in Jachie, a small village in the Ashanti Region, Adutwum’s early life was shaped by economic hardship.
The son of a cocoa farmer, his academic brilliance faced real barriers; at one point his family struggled to raise school fees, even relying on relatives’ help so he could attend secondary school.
Yet, that adversity became the foundation of his political ethos: education as a transformative force.
“I have a deep passion for education and an unrepentant belief that the best way to transform Ghana and in fact Africa is through education,” he has said over the years, a belief that now anchors his broader vision for national progress.
Adutwum’s academic path took him to Jachie‑Pramso Secondary School, where he obtained his GCE O‑Level certificate, before proceeding to Kumasi High School for his A‑Levels.
Then subsequently, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and to the United States, where he earned advanced degrees in Education Management and a PhD in Educational Policy and Administration.
In the US, he spent over two decades as an educator and administrator: teaching mathematics and IT in Los Angeles, leading charter school initiatives, and eventually founding New Designs Charter Schools, a tuition-free public charter system serving thousands of students across middle and high school levels.
It was this blend of classroom experience and institutional leadership that defined Adutwum’s early career and laid the groundwork for his eventual return to Ghana.
A chance encounter with then-presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in Los Angeles, inspired by Akufo-Addo’s vision for Free Senior High School, prompted Adutwum’s return to Ghana in 2017, resigning from his US posts to serve his home country.
He quickly became a rising figure in the NPP, elected Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe Constituency with commanding victories in 2016, 2020, and again in 2024.
In government, he served as Deputy Minister of Education (2017–2021) before being elevated to Minister of Education (2021–2024).
In these roles he championed major reforms, notably pushing Ghana’s STEM education agenda, commissioning dozens of STEM schools and infrastructure projects, and navigating the complexities of the Free SHS policy, earning him the nickname “Dr. STEM.”
Adutwum’s campaign for the NPP flagbearer slot is grounded in both his reform record and a broader socio-economic agenda. Officially declaring his intention to run in June 2025, he has positioned himself as a unity candidate focused on poverty alleviation, high-skill job creation, and human capital development.
His “Hope Tour” across regions doubled down on anti-poverty messaging, while policy pillars expanded beyond education to include grants for traders, welfare officers in constituencies, and a free university policy to eliminate financial barriers to higher education.
That vision resonates with many who see in him a leader whose technocratic competence might translate into broader economic and social renewal.
He faces stiff competition from seasoned figures such as former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, and Abetifi MP, Bryan Acheampong.
However, Adutwum’s campaign narrative informed by personal struggle, global expertise, and tangible policy achievements gives him a distinctive voice among NPP delegates ahead of the primaries.
Observers describe him as an “underdog” whose political experience may be understated but whose grassroots engagement and forward-looking ideas could reshape conversations within the party.
Dr. Adutwum in the course of his campaign emphasised that being perceived as an underdog gives him the space to work quietly while listening closely to the concerns and expectations of delegates across the country.
He has explained that this approach helps him avoid distractions and external pressure, enabling more honest and productive interactions with party stakeholders as the internal contest gathers momentum.
A devoted Christian, husband, and father, Dr. Adutwum maintains strong ties to both Ghana and his earlier life in America, blending spiritual conviction with public service.
His campaign, at its core, is more than a bid for office; it’s a call to harness education as the engine of national renewal.
In a year defined by political choice and generational change, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum’s candidacy offers a lens into how educational transformation, personal resilience, and pragmatic policy can intersect to shape Ghana’s political future.
