Ohio University alumna’s installation as Ghanaian queen mother highlights a decades-long partnership

By: Ebenezer Amartey
Posted on: Tuesday, July 21, 2026

< < Back to

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Traditional Ghanaian drumming, colorful dances and cultural performances filled the room Saturday as Ohio University alumna Janelle Coleman was installed as Queen Mother of Development for Cape Coast, Ghana. 

While the ceremony celebrated Ghanaian tradition, Ohio University leaders said Coleman’s appointment represents more than a cultural honor. They say it underscores a longstanding relationship between Ohio University and Ghana that continues to create educational and cultural opportunities for students and faculty in Southeast Ohio. 

Coleman, a 1995 Ohio University journalism graduate and former chair of the university’s Board of Trustees, was honored during a ceremony attended by Ghanaian officials, community leaders and an Ohio University delegation led by Interim Executive Vice President and Provost John McCarthy. 

McCarthy said the university’s relationship with Ghana has been built over decades through academic partnerships, faculty collaboration and student exchanges. 

“It’s such a deep relationship. When our faculty go to Ghana, they connect, and when students come here, we connect with them,” McCarthy said.  

The university’s partnership includes collaborations with the University of Cape Coast and a growing population of Ghanaian students studying in Athens. McCarthy said those relationships enrich campus life while giving students opportunities to engage with different cultures and perspectives. 

“The more we send our people over there, we get more students coming back from Ghana. They enrich our community and inspire faculty and students to learn more about Ghana and Africa,” he said.  

For Coleman, the traditional title carries a responsibility to serve. She said she hopes to use her new role to promote education, support women and girls, and strengthen ties between Ghana and Ohio. 

“I want to help bridge the gap,” Coleman said.  

Coleman also credited her education with preparing her for this role. 

“My journalism experience will help me tell the story and help others understand the needs and how we’re all connected,” she said.  

The ceremony also brought together leaders from Ghana and Ohio. Officials from the Ghana Tourism Authority spoke about continuing collaboration with Columbus and central Ohio, home to one of the state’s largest Ghanaian communities. 

University leaders said they hope Coleman’s appointment will strengthen future partnerships between Ohio University and Ghana through research, educational exchanges and cultural engagement, creating additional opportunities for students in southeast Ohio.