Mrs. Valerie Sackey is a writer, critic, and former government official. She is the widow of R. R. Amponsah, a prominent lawyer and politician who served as the Secretary-General of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and the National Liberation Movement (NLM).
She is also the author of several books, including “The Life and Times of R. R. Amponsah”, “The Ghanaian Woman and “The Visitor” among others. She came to Ghana in 1957 after Ghana had gained independence and first worked as a geography teacher at Opoku Ware Secondary School. As a prolific and versatile writer, she did not only write story books but also biographies and articles for various publications.
Mrs.Valerie Sackey has had a long and distinguished career in government, serving in various capacities under different administrations. She was the Deputy Minister of Information under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government led by Jerry John Rawlings from 1993 to 1997. Not only did she do that, but also took charge of his speeches, interviews with local and foreign media and official Press Statements. She was the Director of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) from 1997 to 2001, where she oversaw the training and development of journalists and media professionals. She was the Head of the Presidential Press Corps under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government led by John Agyekum Kufuor from 2001 to 2005, where she coordinated the media coverage of the president and his activities.
Mrs. Sackey was also the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2009, where she was responsible for the administrative and financial management of the ministry and its missions abroad. She was the Chairperson of the National Media Commission (NMC) from 2010 to 2014, where she supervised the regulation and promotion of media freedom and professionalism in Ghana.
The hardworking Valerie Sackey has been a prominent and influential figure in the Ghanaian government and media for over two decades. She passed on December 31, 2023 at the age of 88. She is a woman of integrity, courage, and wisdom and though no more her works and name stands tall.
