The Republic of Ghana has entered a
new chapter in its political history with the swearing-in of Professor Naana
Jane Opoku-Agyemang as the country’s first female Vice President. This moment is
more than just a political victory for the National Democratic Congress (NDC);
it marks a national milestone. The NDC has been one of the two major political
parties in Ghana since 1992. Professor Opoku-Agyemang’s rise to the
second-highest office challenges long-held assumptions about gender and
leadership, demonstrating that positions of power are not solely reserved for
men. It also ignites an important conversation about what women’s leadership
means for gender equality, national development, and social transformation
across the Global South.
Before the presidential election,
Professor Opoku-Agyemang’s nomination sparked public debates. Many questioned
whether Ghana was “ready” for a female vice president. Research by scholars
like Amenyedzi (2021) indicates that these negative discourses and doubts often
stem from long-standing cultural beliefs that associate leadership with men.
Her rise directly challenges these patriarchal ideas. However, it is important
to remember that Ghana’s history is filled with strong and influential women.
Queen mothers, market leaders, and community organizers have shaped society for
generations. A notable example is Yaa Asantewaa, the Queen Mother of Ejisu in
the Ashanti Region, who led the famous 1900 resistance against British colonial
forces. Her bold words, “If you, men, will not go forward, then we will… We
will fight until the last of us falls,” remain a symbol of courage and
leadership in Ghana.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang’s own path
reflects the value of women’s contributions to national development. She earned
her PhD in English Literature from York University in Canada in 1986 and built
an accomplished career as an educationist. She later became the first woman to
serve as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast. This distinguished record
shows that women have long held important roles in education and culture. Her
election simply brings this leadership into Ghana’s highest political spaces.
Her breakthrough matters for many
reasons. Studies across Africa, including work by Darkwah and Iheka (2025),
show that when women lead, they often bring attention to issues affecting
vulnerable and marginalized groups. In Ghana, women have never held more than
20% of the seats in Parliament, largely due to structural and cultural barriers.
Evidence from various countries suggests that women leaders often prioritize
social welfare, education, community health, and long-term development. For
example, Liberia’s first female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, rose to power
after years of civil war when the country needed peace, stability, and a
trustworthy leader. Many Liberians believed that women were less connected to
the warlords who caused the conflict. Sirleaf’s integrity and international
reputation made her a symbol of hope and national rebuilding. Her leadership demonstrated
how women can guide nations through difficult moments.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang’s success
did not come easily. Findings by Brantuo et al. (2025) identify four factors
that often support women’s political achievements: financial resources, party
support, strong community relationships, and solid educational backgrounds. Her
long career as a scholar, Vice-Chancellor, and former Minister of Education
helped her build the credibility, networks, and experience needed to reach this
level of leadership. Her story highlights the importance of investing in
women’s education, mentorship, and leadership pathways.
Her nomination also sparked debates
within Ghana’s feminist movement. As Fofie (2025) explains, some activists
celebrated her rise as a major victory, while others saw it as a symbolic
representation that does not necessarily change the deeper inequalities faced
by most women. This discussion shows that feminism in Ghana is not a single
unified voice. True gender equality requires attention to differences in class,
privilege, and access. It also reminds us that women in politics continue to
face challenges such as high campaign costs, cultural expectations, and weak
support systems. Scholars like Awusi et al. (2023) argue that lasting progress
requires clear policies such as affirmative action, financial support for
female candidates, and political education for communities.
Ghana’s first female Vice President
is not only a historic achievement but also a reminder of the work that lies
ahead. Professor Opoku-Agyemang has shown what is possible when women are given
the opportunity to lead. The challenge now is to ensure that her success paves
the way for many more women, so that female leadership becomes a normal part of
Ghana’s political landscape. With this development, the prospect of Ghana
electing its first female president no longer feels distant. As the saying
goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Ghana must
continue to take deliberate and pragmatic steps to promote women’s
participation, encourage inclusive leadership, and place gender and development
at the center of national discourse.
References
Amenyedzi, S. B. (2021). Leadership roles for
indigenous Ghanaian women: The case of Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang as
vice-presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC). African
Thought: A Journal of Afro-Centric Knowledge, 1(se1), 169-191.
Awusi, M., Addae, D., & Frimpong Kwapong, O. A. T.
(2023). Tackling the legislative underrepresentation of women in Ghana:
Empowerment strategies for broader gender parity. Social Sciences
& Humanities Open, 8(1), 100717.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100717
Brantuo, M., Nunfam, V. F., Asitik, J. A., &
Afrifa-Yamoah, E. (2025). Bridging the gender gap in Ghanaian local governance:
Key enablers and pathways. Social Politics, 00(00), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1093/sp/jxaf035
Darkwah, A., & Iheka, C. (2025). (Re)presenting
women’s political participation on the continent. African Studies Review,
68(2), 222–226. https://doi.org/10.1017/asr.2025.10060
Fofie, I. M. (2025). “My feminism is better than yours!”: The lack of intersectionality in feminist digital discourses in Ghana. Feminist Media Studies, 25(1), 154–167. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2023.2276065
Thank you, James, for insightful framing of Ghana’s first female Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, within broader debates on gender, leadership, and national development. Women’s political and public leadership is critical, yet women continue to hold disproportionately few positions in decision-making spaces. The discussed debate reveals that it is not just a numbers issue but a question of influence, voice, and institutional power. Even where women enter political office, they often face limited decision-making authority or are confined to some common portfolios "suitable for women". The five most commonly held portfolios by women Cabinet Ministers are Women and gender equality, followed by Family and children affairs, Social inclusion and development, Social protection and social security, and Culture. Your analysis of financial constraints, party dynamics, and cultural expectations are important structural barrier to address this under-participation.
ReplyDeleteThe reflections also resonate deeply with the Bangladesh context, where women have long held top political positions including two former prime ministers, yet broader and local political participation remains limited. Despite high-profile female leadership, Bangladeshi women still face barriers such as patriarchal norms, restricted mobility, and gendered violence in politics and governance. However, I definitely feel that having Female Prime Ministers ensured more safety and opportunities for women in Bangladesh, and I hope Ghana will experience the same under Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang's leadership.
That is incredible news. Given the low representation of women in governments around the world, it is good to read when women --- particularly those who are concerned with championing women's rights (as not all women politicians are) --- reach high-ranking positions. My brother-in-law is from Ghana and he has a female relative who is a local leader/politician for her village. Regardless of what level a woman holds a political position, I agree that it does pave the way for future women leaders by showing that it's possible and inspiring change (my six-year-old niece says she would love to be president one day. I'm rooting for her).
ReplyDeleteWhen I read through your blog post, I was also reminded of the article by Spivak (Can the Subaltern Speak?) and the article by Narayanaswamy (Whose Feminism Counts?). In her article, Narayanaswamy highlights the issue of Southern elite feminists speaking on behalf of all women in their country, universalizing issues that the women face. It was this part of your blog in particular that I think contributes to this point: "Her nomination also sparked debates within Ghana’s feminist movement. As Fofie (2025) explains, some activists celebrated her rise as a major victory, while others saw it as a symbolic representation that does not necessarily change the deeper inequalities faced by most women. This discussion shows that feminism in Ghana is not a single unified voice. True gender equality requires attention to differences in class, privilege, and access." I think that that pointing out the complexities in historic events like these is important so that those who are seeking to be heard still can be acknowledged. After all, as we've discussed in class during the topic of subaltern, there can only be true equity when those who are most marginalized are heard and included in conversations about development.
Thank you for sharing this amazing news, James! A lot of the points you bring up, especially the one about this being a major victory but not necessarily a sign that deeper inequalities no longer exists, reminds me of the two most recent US presidential elections. Kamala Harris was elected as the first vice-president in US history, just like Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, but when she tried to run for president she was faced with significant backlash that her male counterpart she was running against did not. A lot of the criticisms she faced were based in her gender and identity as a woman. The 2024 presidential election revealed that the US still faces a lot of social issues of women being heavily criticized when they are in positions of power, however, we are seeing other small steps being taken around the country such as in Virginia, where they elected their first female governor in state history this past November. Just like in Ghana, I am hopeful that these small steps continue to push more and more women into positions of leadership and I hope that these efforts will also create new spaces in the US for conversations about gender and development, and how we can ensure women in the US have a seat at the table of development and leadership.
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