Renowned academic and 1992 running mate Prof. Naa Afarley Sackeyfio dies at 85

Professor Naa Afarley Sackeyfio, the renowned academic, author, and first woman to be named a vice-presidential candidate in Ghana’s Fourth Republic, has died at the age of 85.

The distinguished Professor of English Language, who spent most of her career at the University of Cape Coast, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026. Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, February 24, at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Sakumono, Accra, followed by a memorial service on Sunday, March 1, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Cantonments.

Sackeyfio etched her name in Ghana’s political history in 1992 when entrepreneur and National Independence Party (NIP) founder Mr. Kwabena Darko selected her as his running mate – making her the first woman to secure a vice-presidential slot on a presidential ticket in the Fourth Republic.

During that historic campaign, Sackeyfio introduced what would become her signature proposal: the establishment of a national holiday for Muslims in Ghana. At the time considered radical and unrealistic, the idea was initially dismissed by many. Yet years later, the implementation of such a holiday has been widely credited with contributing to national cohesion.

Her daughter, Ewuraba Amonoowa Sam, recalled recently how schoolmates at Holy Child School in Cape Coast used to tease her about her mother’s campaign promise during her sixth form years.

Beyond politics, Sackeyfio leaves behind an indelible legacy in Ghanaian education. As a longtime lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, she was respected in academic circles for her scholarship. Her educational books, including “Tales My Mother Used to Tell,” “Culture Clothed in Tales,” and “Comprehension Plus,” shaped generations of Ghanaian students and helped develop their writing skills and love for reading.

Fellow educator Kate Annan-Wilberforce, apparently a former student, posted a tribute online describing Sackeyfio as “a unique woman of excellence” who “in her subtle ways engraved writing style in all her students and readers.”

In 1999, the Millennium Excellence Foundation recognised Sackeyfio’s contributions to education and national development with one of its prestigious awards.

Anuga Fortunate, writing on the Modern Ghana site in June 2021, had questioned why the legendary educator had not received a state award for her unparalleled contribution to English education in Ghana, describing her as “a worthy role model” and “a mother who has literally spoon-fed them with the intricacies and nuances of the Queen’s Language.”

Beyond her public achievements, Sackeyfio was remembered for her personal kindness. In 1996, when journalist Ajoa Yeboah-Afari sought help securing a Senior High School placement for her daughter, Sackeyfio responded immediately with characteristic humour – “don’t panic” – and successfully facilitated admission to Bishop Archbishop Porter Girls SHS in Takoradi.

Sackeyfio’s career summary includes her significant contributions to teaching and scholarship at the University of Cape Coast, her acclaimed literary work as an author and poet, and her legacy as a dedicated educator whose high-profile English textbooks influenced countless students across Ghana.

Her death has prompted reflections on her pioneering role in Ghanaian politics and education, with many noting that the seed she planted in 1992 with her proposal for a Muslim holiday germinated years later and continues to flourish as part of Ghana’s national life.