Portfolio
§ Executive Director- International Institute for the Advanced Study of Cultures, Institutions and Economic Enterprise. (IIAS)
The International Institute for the Advanced Study of Cultures, Institutions and Economic Enterprise has been established to pursue multi-disciplinary research into African cultures, institutions (legal, social, cultural, political, economic, health) enterprise and everyday life as a platform for institutional reform and the creation of more supple structures to meet new challenges. The institution is quest to develop African solutuions to African problems, informed by current international scholarship, best policy practices and emerging out of dialogue between academic researchers, policy makers and government officials. The Institution provides consultancies for both government and non-government bodies. Through its workshops, symposia, public lectures, round-tables and publications, IIAS intends to revivify rigorous scholarship and publishing in Ghana and the West African sub-region.
NB: For more on IIAS visit the website www.interias.com
§ Executive Director – Culture, Education and Technology Network (CET-Net)
The Culture, Education and Technology Network (CETNET) is a non-governmental organisation established in 2000 and registered in June 2003. CETNET’s main objective is to achieve effective communication on culture and education through various media. To this end the network seeks to promote and preserve Ghanaian cultural heritage and positive traditional values by collecting, collating and preserving cultural data and insignia and recording cultural dances, music and stories on VHS-tapes, DVD, VCD, CD, MCD CD-Rom. In addition, CET-NET aims to promote civic education to the various Ghanaian publics through radio, film, docu-drama’s, documentaries, live drama, location discussions and facilitated peer discussions.
NB: For more on CETNET visit the website: www.cet-net.com
§ President – Historical Society of Ghana. (HSG)
The Historical Society of Ghana was founded in 1951 under the auspices of leading scholars and nationalists such as John D. Fage, A. A. Kwapong , Albert Adu Boahen, J. B Danquah, Kobina Sekyi, Nana Kobina Nketsia and others. The Society has a broad membership of historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, linguist and ancillary disciplines and other professionals. It is a society that includes all the levels in the educational system, lecturers and students from the six public universities- University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Cape Coast, University of Education, Winneba, the University of Development Studies, University of Mines- and teachers in Secondary Schools and Teacher Training Colleges.
The vision of the Society is to deepen national appreciation of the relevance of history to understanding Ghana’s past and present; to highlight the centrality of history to the production of knowledge in general; and to reveals history’s influence in everyday life.
The Society ran a journal, Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana, which was the leading journal on Ghanaian history. It also published the Ghana Notes and Queries and Teachers Journal, which also served as scholarly forum for secondary school history teachers.
NB: For more on HSG visit the website www.historicalsocietygh.com
§ President – Volta Hall Alumni Association
Volta Hall is the only female Hall of residence of the University of Ghana. The Volta Hall Chapter of the University of Ghana Alumni Association was formed in 1998 as an officially recognised mouthpiece of Alumnae of Volta Hall. The Association is aim at supporting the operations of the University of Ghana in general and Volta Hall in -particular. The mission statement of the Association enjoins members to come together as women to use their training, skills, talents, experiences and resources to mentor and counsel female students of the University of Ghana, other professional and non-professional men and women who may need their services and support.
NB: For more contact the E-mail:
§ Vice President for Africa - United Bible Society .(UBS)
The United Bible Society is a world-wide non-profit making Christian organisation involved in the translation, production and distribution of the Holy Scriptures in various languages of the world.
NB: For more on UBS visit the website www.ubs.com
§ Chairperson- Women in Leadership and Development. ( WILAD)
Women in Leadership and Development is an initiative of concerned women in leadership positions. The Organisation’s vision statement is to provide a holistic and sustained development for women. The Organisation intends to use its skills, talents experience and resources to train, mentor and counsel women to enhance their quality of life and build their capacity for leadership and development.
NB: For more on WILAD visit the website www.wldghana.com
§ Chairperson-Accra Collegeof Education Board of Governors
Accra College of Education is an institution of Higher Learning of the Republic of Ghana having its registered offices at Madina Estate near Institute of Professional Studies (IPS). The institution is headed by a Principal. In steering the affairs of the institution properly, the institution is governed by a Board of which Professor of Irene K. Odotei is the Chairperson due to her years of rich experience and broad understanding of higher education.
NB: For more contact the E-mail: atracoo@yahoo.com
§ Former Director – Institute of African Studies. (IAS)
The institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon was established by an Act of Parliament in 1961, under the leadership and inspiration of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of the Republic of Ghana as a semi-autonomous institute within the University of Ghana. It was conceived to play a vanguard role in the intellectual effort to uncover and disseminate through research all aspects of the rich culture and history of African peoples.
The mission of the institute is to present an authentic, well informed African view point on the history , culture and contemporary issues of Africa and its Diaspora, through; interdisciplinary training of new generations of African scholars, teachers and activists. Interpretating and assessing in novel ways what constitutes the African past. Studying the history, cultural institutions, languages and arts of Ghana in new African centred ways. Publishing and disseminating such research findings in various media throughout Africa, and the world. Co-operating with other similar institutions in the region and elsewhere in research and other scholarly endeavours. Conceiving and studying Africa in its widest possible diversity and it underlying unity. Identifying, collecting and classifying documents on Africa classics in anthropology, history, philosophy, literature and law in all languages, and making a library and archive permanently available to scholars and students.
For more contact IAS@ug.gn.apc.org
§ Director- Asafo History Programme. (AHP)
The Asafo History programme is a research programme of co-operation between the University of Ghana, Legon, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim. The programme is based at the Institute of African Studies, Legon, where an Asafo Secretariat and Research & Documentation Centre has been established. The focus of AHP is multidisciplinary research into the general theme of ‘‘Community organisation and popular protest: The role of Asafo Companies in Historical and Contemporary Perspective’’. A number of Ghanaian Scholars and graduate students are affiliated to the programme as well as scholars and students from Norway.
NB: For more on AHP contact the E-mail: asafo@ghana.com
§ Director- Centre For Culture, Governance and Development
§ Project Manager and Co-ordinator - Chieftaincy, Governance and Development Project.
In January 2000, the Ford Foundation gave the Institute of African Studies a grant of
$253,000 for a project on Chieftaincy, Governance and Development .The project had its objectives as initiating an academic and systematic study of the Chieftaincy institution –political, religious, social and cultural –especially in its changing roles in governance and development. The project was also to establish a Centre that would attract international scholars to study the institution of Chieftaincy. The project also attempted to reactivate and diversify the collection and documentation of stool histories. The last objective of the Chieftaincy project was to develop curricula to teach courses on chieftaincy which would enhance the capacity of chiefs, administrators, non-governmental organisations (NGO’s), academics, central government, local governments, and civil society in dealing with traditional systems of governance.
NB: Report on Phase I: Chieftaincy, Governance and Development Project submitted to the Ford Foundation Office for West Africa, September 2001.
§ Co-ordinator- University of California Education Abroad Program.(UCEAP)
The University of California Education Abroad Program is an exchange program. Professor Irene K. Odotei is the Liason Officer for the University of California Education Program in Ghana. Among her many responsibilities is to provide a full range of academic program planning and personal advising to the University of California students participating in the Education Abroad Program in Ghana, including but not limited to identification of appropriate University courses; assistance with independent study projects; advising on access to resources needed for study ; intervening with University of Ghana faculty members as needed to ensure the academic progress of UC students; advising on residential and campus life matters ; advising on medical matters and assisting students who may be in need of personal counselling; and intervening as may be needed to ensure the emotional, physical , and academic well-being and safety of program participants.
NB: For more on UCEAP visit the website eap.ucop.edu
§ Member- Judicial Council of Ghana.
The Judicial council of Ghana is established for building a credible institution for the Administration of Justice in the Country. One of the underlying tenets of the Judicial Council is to support the efforts of government in improving democratic governance in Ghana, by providing a judicial system that is transparent, fair and equitable, that is accountable and above all, one that Ghanaians regardless of their status in society will have equal access to justice.
Currently, her ladyship, the Chief Justice, Justice Georgina Theodora Wood is the Chairperson of the Council. The Council has a membership of eighteen (18) serving in several committees. Prof. Irene K. Odotei is a member of the Appointments Committee of the Judicial Council of Ghana.
§ Member- Presidential Commission on Chieftaincy Affairs.
§ Member- National Peace Council.(NPC)
The National Peace Council is established to promote peace in the country. This has become necessary in view of intermittent ethnic clashes of groups in the country for minor infraction which could have been solved amicably rather than by resort to armed-clashes which bring untold hardships to people quite apart from instability to peace in the country.
Member- National Council of the Bible Society of Ghana
The principal activity of the Bible Society of Ghana is to ensure the widest possible, effective and meaningful distribution of the Holy Scriptures and helping people interact with the word of God.
The Council is responsible for the preparation of the Society’s financial statements for each financial year, which gives true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Society and of the Income and Expenditure and Cash flows for that period. The Council is also responsible for ensuring that the Society keeps proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Society. The Council is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Society and taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud ad other irregularities.
NB: For more contact the E-mail: info@biblesociety-ghana.org
Awards/Honours
- She received a meritorious award from the Universityof Ghana in 2007.
- She also received the Order of the Volta-Officer award for distinguishing herself in Higher Education from former President John Agyekum Kufour of Ghana on 3rd July 2008.
Interests / Hobbies
- Professor Irene K. Odotei enjoys doing Charitable works
- Listening and watching documentaries and audio visuals
- Reading
- Participating in Cultural activities like Festivals