Agyenim Boateng

Dr. Agyenim Boateng

Dr. Agyenim Boateng is a Ghanaian-American citizen currently residing in Lexington, Kentucky U.S.A. He is a former Administrative Law Judge for the Transportation Cabinet of Kentucky and a former Deputy Attorney General for the State of Kentucky.

Education and training

He was educated at St Peter’s Boys School, Kumasi, Ghana, followed by Secondary education at Asanteman Secondary School . He was the first Student Editor of “The Porcupine.” He passed the Cambridge School Certificate Exam (West African Examination Council) in 1959. In 1962, he passed the University of London General Certificate of Education Advanced Level examinations. He became a tutor at his Alma Mater for about three years before coming to the United States for further studies in 1964

Dr. Boateng attended Miami University (Ohio) where he obtained B.A. (Government) in 1966. He went on to achieve a Masters Degree in Political Science at Atlanta University (Georgia) in 1969. His Master’s Thesis was entitled: “Some Problems of National Integration in Ghana and Nigeria, 1957-66: A Case Study.” Dr. Boateng attended Howard University School Of Law, Washington DC where he obtained a J.D. (Juris Doctorate) degree in 1973. His Doctoral Thesis was entitled: “Case study of Forced Labor among Professionals in Europe and Africa: A Question of International Law on Human Rights”. While at Howard, he became the president of the Howard University Society of International law (HUSIL) and led the moot court team as its captain for the prestigious annual international Jessup Moot Court Competition, organized by the American Society of International Law (ASIL), in which the team won the American regional championship. All his higher educational expenses were funded through grants, partial scholarships, educational loans and savings from various jobs he held while studying.

Career

His professional career extends from teaching as Assistant Professor in Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama and also at Daniel Payne College in Birmingham Alabama where he served as Assistant Professor of Political and Social Science.

• Served as a fellow Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer with Louisville Legal Aid Society 1973-74.

• Joined the Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and served as state attorney on various levels and rose through the rank to become Division Director of the Administrative Law Hearing Section where he served as its chief administrative law Judge for 16 years.

• In 1998 he was appointed by the Attorney General for the state as one of his assistants and later became his deputy and served that post with distinction until his retirement in January 2009. • “Ghana’s Modern Judiciary and Democratic Governance” presented at a round table conference for Center on Democratic Development (CDC) Accra, Ghana July 2001.

Achievements

• In 1973 he was awarded Reginald H. Smith Fellow. Selected with 2000 other U.S. Law School graduates known as the “Brightest and the Best” to work as community Lawyers across U.S. Legal Aide Societies. Stationed at Louisville Legal Aid Society. Represented the indigents on civil matters. Counseled clients on their legal rights to government entitlements. Set up community legal education training programs.

• Distinguished trial attorney with exemplary track record and accomplishments in public, on the bench, private sectors of practice of law in addition to governmental experience. Administrative skills in governmental affairs, office, personnel management, policy, and planning issues.

• Has been involved with the American state and national political system as a teacher at university level. Has accomplished four years of post-graduate study and work in the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C. which offered him a unique perspective on American government, judiciary and diplomacy. Has considerable expertise in areas of competent administrative and professional skills.

• He was a member of the U.S. Ghanaian diasporans who went to Ghana in 2005 to lobby Parliament for the passage of Representative of the People’s Amendment Act (ROPAA) in 2005 and drafted the necessary Regulations for its implementation by the National Electoral Commission of Ghana (NEC) which failed to implement.

• 1985- 90 he served on the Board of Directors of Central Kentucky Legal Aid Society and Kentucky Court Mediation Council.

His passion and vision is to see that all natural born Ghanaian citizens living everywhere are accorded full citizenship rights under the country’s constitution, are allowed to vote from abroad in the country’s elections and referenda, run for various elective offices and are appointed or allowed to compete for posts in the Ghana’s public services.

Dr. Agyenim Boateng is now in private practice serving as legal and management consultant at his office in Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

Professional affiliations and Awards • Member: Kentucky Bar Association • Admitted to practice • Supreme Court of United States • Supreme Court of Kentucky • U.S Federal District Courts • International Toastmaster’s Society • Award for Excellence: Howard University (1973) University Team Captain and Oralist Students, International Law Moot Court Competition • Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonel 2009 by Governor of KY for meritorious service. • Certificate: Competent Toastmaster (CTM) in public speaking

Personal Life

Dr. Boateng hails from Atimatim-Kumasi and belongs to the Ekuona clan. He lives with wife, Deloris and children, Afua and Adu in Lexington, KY. His hobbies include writing ,reading, history, golfing, gardening, gym exercises, enjoying American and Ghanaian gospel music and traditional Asante music.

Publications:

1. "Lawyer as juror" Kentucky Bench and Bar, Frankfort, KY August 1989

2. "Judiciary as a force in nation building" Ghana Drum, Washington DC 3-part series Feb/May l990

3. ‘Need for Judiciary Reforms" Ghana Drum 3-part series Feb/May, 1990

4. “Ghana’s Modern Judiciary and Democratic Governance” presented at a round table conference for Center on Democratic Development (CDC) Accra, Ghana July 2001.

5. "Parliament versus the Judiciary" Ghana Web October 16, 2002

6. "My testimony: Earlier Years at Asanteman", Ghana Web Aug 11, 2004

7. "New Journalistic paradigm" Ghana web Dec 12, 2004

8. "Profile of Dr. Agyenim Boateng' Ghana Web May 31, 2005

9 . "Equal Rights for Ghanaian Dual Citizens,” Ghana Web, May 11, 2007

10 . "Ghana Dual citizen for Equal Rights; A Human Rights Issue" Ghana Web Oct. 21, 2008

11. "Demand for Equal Rights" Ghana Web Oct 30, 2008