– Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang Breaks the Glass Celling
Ghana has entered a new gender-sensitive era in its democratic journey with the election of Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as the country’s first female Vice President-elect. This achievement comes on the heels of Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s concession to National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer John Dramani Mahama in the 2024 Presidential Election.
Serving as Mahama’s running mate in the December 7, 2024 elections, Professor Opoku-Agyemang has made history once again, having previously partnered with him in the 2020 general election. Her nomination was formally endorsed by the NDC’s National Executive Committee earlier this year, cementing her status as a trailblazer in Ghanaian politics.
Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang’s election comes after she and Ghana’s former President, John Dramani Mahama, won the country’s presidential election after his main opponent, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat.
“The people of Ghana have spoken, the people have voted for change at this time, and we respect it with all humility,” Bawumia said in a news conference on Sunday. The defeat in Saturday’s election ends two terms in power for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) under President Nana Akufo-Addo, marked by Ghana’s worst economic crisis in years, involving high inflation and a debt default.
A handful of other African nations have elected females as their vice presidents, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Namibia, and Tanzania. Sahle-Work Zewde became the first female president of Ethiopia in 2018. While Ethiopia does not have a vice president in the traditional sense, the position of President is significant in this context. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has also served as Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation. She was elected as the Vice President of the SWAPO Party in 2022.
In Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan became the first female Vice President of the country in 2015 and later ascended to the presidency in March 2021 after the death of President John Magufuli. Martha Ellen Kandeh – Elected as Vice President in 2023, she is one of the few women to hold this office in the country. In Liberia, Jewel Howard-Taylor became Vice President in 2018 and is the first woman to hold this office in Liberia, like Prof. Opoku-Agyemang of Ghana.
Academic Journey
Born on November 22, 1951, in Cape Coast, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang (née Jane Naana Sam) is an esteemed academic and politician. She achieved a significant milestone as the first female Vice-Chancellor of a public university in Ghana, leading the University of Cape Coast from 2008 to 2012. Currently, she serves as the Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa, based in Zimbabwe.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang holds a B.Ed. in English and French from the University of Cape Coast, a Diploma in Advanced Studies from the University of Dakar, and both a master’s and doctorate from York University in Canada. Her secondary education includes prestigious institutions such as Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast.
Commitment to Education and Gender Equality
As Minister of Education from 2013 to 2017, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang was a staunch advocate for inclusivity in education, notably through the Inclusive Education Policy of 2015. Her dedication to promoting gender equality and access to education has made her a formidable force in advocating for women and girls in Ghana.
Her political career is characterized by integrity and a focus on pertinent issues, significantly enhancing NDC’s support in key regions, including Central and Greater Accra.
An Inspiration for Future Generations
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s remarkable achievements have garnered her numerous accolades, including honorary degrees and international recognition. In 2011, she was awarded the Officer of the Order of the Volta for Academic Distinction and has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential women in Africa by Avance Media.
As she prepares to take office, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s historic election is celebrated as a triumph for gender representation and inclusivity in Ghanaian politics. Her journey reflects a lifetime of dedication to education, leadership, and public service, inspiring a new generation of women leaders across the nation and the African continent.
