Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh Appointed Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada

By Joylinda Laryea / June 30, 2025

President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Professor Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, a renowned academic and the University of Cape Coast’s (UCC) first female Pro Vice-Chancellor, as Ghana’s new High Commissioner to Canada.

The appointment was made following consultations with the Council of State, in accordance with Ghana’s constitutional provisions for diplomatic postings. A statement from the Presidency described Prof. Edu-Buandoh as “a distinguished academic and public servant who brings to the role extensive leadership, academic, and international experience.”

Born on April 1, 1962, Prof. Edu-Buandoh has had a trailblazing academic career, rising through the ranks at the University of Cape Coast to become a full Professor of English in 2021. She holds a Ph.D. in Language, Literacy and Culture from the University of Iowa, USA, and has served in several critical leadership positions within the university, including Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Head of the Department of English, and Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies.

From 2019 to 2021, she served as UCC’s first female Pro Vice-Chancellor, breaking gender barriers and leading key initiatives in academic reform and institutional development. She also chaired the Presidential Committee on Emoluments for Article 71 Office Holders in 2016, demonstrating her versatility and capacity for national service.

Prof. Edu-Buandoh's appointment to the Canadian mission comes at a time when Ghana is seeking to deepen bilateral ties with Canada in areas such as education, trade, climate resilience, and youth development. As a respected scholar and advocate for gender equity and access to education, her profile aligns with Ghana’s soft diplomacy goals and commitment to inclusive representation.

In November 2022, she launched the Dora Edu-Buandoh Foundation, which focuses on supporting higher education access and empowering young women in Ghana. She is also known for her impactful inaugural lecture titled “Discourses of Our Times: Power, Norms of Language Use, and Identity Formation” delivered in April 2024, which received nationwide acclaim.

A staunch member of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Christ, Ghana, Prof. Edu-Buandoh is also a proud mother to Dr. Fiifi Edu-Afful, a researcher and academic.

Her appointment has been widely applauded across academic and diplomatic circles as a strategic and meritorious choice that reflects President Mahama’s emphasis on competence, diversity, and national service.

She is expected to officially assume office in Ottawa later this year after presenting her credentials to the Canadian government.