The University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. Eric Opoku Mensah as the substantive Vice-Chancellor, effective 13th May 2024, after having served in an acting capacity as the Vice-Chancellor since February 8, 2024, upon the retirement of the previous Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo.
Prof. Opoku Mensah brings a visionary approach and his expertise in higher education management to his new role, having served as the Deputy 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, Prof 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.”
In the acting capacity as the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Opoku Mensah has shown great strides and preparedness for this new role.
He 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 student 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 Prof. 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 (UniMAC) is a public university birthed out of the merger of the former Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), Ghana Institute of Languages (GIL) and National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI).
PROFILE OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR
Prof. Eric Opoku Mensah is a Rhetoric and Media Studies scholar and, presently, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), having served previously as the Deputy Rector and later, Rector of the Institute of Journalism, a constituent institute under the University.
Prof. Opoku Mensah holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Language and a Master of Philosophy Degree in English Language from the University of Cape Coast. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, where he focused his doctoral research on an examination of the political communication of Dr Kwame Nkrumah. He has a deep-seated research interest in Nkrumah’s pan-African rhetorical enterprise, his rhetorical artefacts, their formations, and how they have contributed to the creation of nationhood and citizenship in a burgeoning democratic society.
Prof. Opoku Mensah has attended many international conferences and workshops and also serves as a reviewer for several local and international journals in language 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, Prof. 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, with the International Labor Organization (ILO) conference in Geneva and the Education International Conference (EI) in Taipei and Bangkok being notable mentions. He is also a past National President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), after having 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, including serving as a member of the University of Cape Coast Governing Council, Academic Board, College Board, and Faculty Boards, as well as the Head of the Communication Studies Department and several other roles. He has a clear understanding of Ghana’s higher education policy framework and has participated in several workshops on the new Tertiary Education Policy in Ghana and participated in critical discussions on 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.
Find Prof Eric Opoku Mensah’s full profile below.
Prof. Eric Opoku Mensah is a Rhetoric and Media Studies scholar and, presently, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), having served previously as the Deputy Rector and later, Rector of the Institute of Journalism, a constituent institute under the University.
Prof. Opoku Mensah holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Language and a Master of Philosophy Degree in English Language from the University of Cape Coast. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, where he focused his doctoral research on an examination of the political communication of Dr Kwame Nkrumah. He has a deep-seated research interest in Nkrumah’s pan-African rhetorical enterprise, his rhetorical artefacts, their formations, and how they have contributed to the creation of nationhood and citizenship in a burgeoning democratic society.
Prof. Opoku Mensah has attended many international conferences and workshops and also serves as a reviewer for several local and international journals in language 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, Prof. 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, with the International Labor Organization (ILO) conference in Geneva and the Education International Conference (EI) in Taipei and Bangkok being notable mentions. He is also a past National President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), after having 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, including serving as a member of the University of Cape Coast Governing Council, Academic Board, College Board, and Faculty Boards, as well as the Head of the Communication Studies Department and several other roles. He has a clear understanding of Ghana’s higher education policy framework and has participated in several workshops on the new Tertiary Education Policy in Ghana and participated in critical discussions on 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.