The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has said that Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has not lived up to the high expectations placed on him as Education Minister, despite being widely celebrated during his time as Deputy Minister.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 30, Mr Braimah made the point while contributing to discussions on the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer contest, in which Dr Adutwum’s name has occasionally been mentioned as a potential future presidential contender.
He observed that while Dr Adutwum had been praised for his energy and ideas as a Deputy Minister, his record as substantive Minister paints a different picture.
“As Deputy Minister, he was celebrated for his brilliance and vision, but as substantive Minister, his performance was disappointing,” he said.
Dr Adutwum, who took office as Education Minister in 2021, has championed initiatives such as STEM expansion, infrastructure development, and digital learning support.
However, Mr Braimah argued that challenges with policy execution, unresolved issues like the double-track system, and questions around educational quality have dented his standing.
He noted that the contrast between Dr Adutwum’s promise as Deputy Minister and his delivery as substantive Minister underlines the heavy burden of leadership.
“Being a deputy is one thing, but leading is another. The expectations on him were very high, but he has not risen to them,” Mr Braimah added.