Joyce Rosalind Aryee (born 27 March 1947) is a Ghanaian former politician, business executive and minister. Aryee is recognized for having served Ghana for more than 40 years in both the public and private sectors. From 2001 to 2011, she served as the chief executive officer of the

Ghana Chamber of Mines The Ghana Chamber of Mines (GCM) is the main minerals industry association in Ghana. The Chamber is a voluntary private sector employers association representing companies and organizations engaged in the minerals and mining industry. It was foun ...

and was the first woman in Africa to have held that role. She has also held political roles in Ghana from the early years of the

PNDC The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) was the name of the Ghanaian government after the People's National Party's elected government was overthrown by Jerry Rawlings, the former head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, in a coup ...

government. She is currently the executive director of Salt and Light Ministries, a para-church organization. She is an Honorary Council Member of the Ghana Association of Restructuring and Insolvency Advisors.

Early life and education

Born to a Fante mother and a Ga father, Joyce is the second of four children. During her early years, she lived with her family in North Suntreso, Kumasi where she started her early years of education at Methodist Primary School and Methodist Middle School. She later went to

Achimota School Achimota School ( /ɑːtʃimoʊtɑː/ ), formerly Prince of Wales College and School at Achimota, later Achimota College, now nicknamed Motown, is a co-educational boarding school located at Achimota in Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana. The school wa ...

and graduated in 1969 from the University of Ghana, Legon with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in English.

Career

Early career

During her study in University of Ghana, she took a job (during holidays) at West Africa Examination Council in the Test Development and Research Office (TDRO). Also, she worked at the Ghana Museums and Monument Board with the administration. From 1976 to 1981, she worked as a Public Relations Officer at the then newly established Environmental Protection Council. Later moved to the Ghana Standards Board (currently

Ghana Standards Authority The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) formerly Ghana Standards Board (GSB) is a Government of Ghana agency responsible for the maintenance of acceptable standards for product and services and sound management practices in industries and public insti ...

) as Public Relations Officer.

Political career

From 1982 to 1985 Aryee was appointed by ex-president of Ghana

Jerry John Rawlings Jerry John Rawlings (22 June 194712 November 2020) was a Ghanaian military officer and politician who led the country for a brief period in 1979, and then from 1981 to 2001. He led a military junta until 1992, and then served two terms as the de ...

as the secretary of information for the

. From 1985 to 1987 she was Minister of Education, and in 1987–88 Minister of Local Government. From 1988 to 2001 she was Minister of Democracy in the Office of the Prime Minister, and from 1993 to 2001 a Member of the National Defence Council.

Salt & Light Ministries

Aryee is the founder and currently executive director of Salt & Light Ministries, a para-church organization. She also runs the Joyce Aryee Consult, which focuses in the areas of Management and Communications. She serves as a board member on several boards such as the Kinross Chirano Gold Mine Ghana board, the Mentoring Women Ghana board, and the Roman Ridge School Academic Board.

Harmonious Chorale

Aryee serves as the chair of Harmonious Chorale, a music group in Ghana. She is the founder of the ''Salt and Light Ministries'', a ministry set to encourage and motivate the Body of Christ.

Accra Mining Network

Dr. Joyce Aryee is also the First Patron Extraordinaire of AMN, Accra Mining Network, the largest amorphous extractive industry professional organisation in the world.

Personal life

Joyce Aryee has been married twice; first to a medical doctor with whom she lived in Germany and then later to Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby.

Awards and honors

Aryee was given the Second Highest State Award, the Companion of the Order of the Volta in 2006 in recognition of her service to the nation. She is also the recipient of the

Chartered Institute of Marketing The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) was founded in 1911. It has over 30,000 members, including more than 3,000 registered Chartered Marketers. CIM offers 130 study centres in 36 countries, and exam centres in 132 countries. In 1952 Prince ...

, Ghana (CIMG), Marketing Woman of the Year Award for 2007 and the African Leadership on Centre for Economic Development's African Female Business Leader of the Year Award for 2009. She was also awarded in 2012 with the Honorary Award of the Year 2012, as well as one of the pioneers and pillars of gospel music, at the Adom FM Ghana Gospel Industry Awards (GGIA) (2nd Edition). Joyce Aryee was also honored in mining and public service at the maiden edition of the Women in Excellence award in 2011 and was nominated as the "2011 Woman of the Year" by the American Biographical Institute (ABI). She was the first female to receive the Inspirational Woman Award at the Ghana UK Based Achievement (GUBA) Awards 2015 for creating change, which paved the way for women. Again, she won an award as the Public Relations Personality of the Year 2014 by the Institute of Public Relations Ghana and was mentioned in the list of 100 Global Inspiration Women in Mining in the world. Aryee is an Honorary Fellow of the

Ghana Institution of Engineers The Ghana Institution of Engineers(GhIE) is the professional body responsible for licensing practicing engineers in Ghana. It was founded in 1968 to succeed the Ghana Group of Professional Engineers. The Institution derives its authority from th ...

and received an Honorary Doctorate from the

University of Mines and Technology The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) is a public university located at Tarkwa in the Western Region of Ghana. History UMaT was first established as the Tarkwa Technical Institute in 1952. In 1961, the university was changed to the ...

in recognition of her immense contributions to the growth of the mining industry.

named their 17th dormitory, 'Rev Joyce R. Aryee House' after her, in honor of her selfless service to the nation and commitment as well as contribution to her alma mater.

Publications

Aryee has co-authored the book ''The Transformed Mind''The Transformed Mind''
(Eagle Online Books, 2012). Amazon. with Samuel Koranteng-Pipim.

References

External links

Mentoring Women Ghana BoardSalt and Light Ministries websiteFootprints on Citi TV with Dr. Joyce Aryee
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aryee, Joyce Living people 1947 births Alumni of Achimota School 20th-century Ghanaian businesspeople Ghanaian religious leaders Education ministers of Ghana Information ministers of Ghana Local government ministers of Ghana Recipients of the Order of the Volta 20th-century Ghanaian politicians 20th-century Ghanaian women politicians 21st-century Ghanaian politicians 21st-century Ghanaian women politicians Women government ministers of Ghana Ga-Adangbe people Fante people University of Ghana alumni