Her Space with Bridget Mensah: Can a Girl Dream of Being President? Ghana's Journey Towards Gender Equality in Leadership
In January 2025, Ghana made history by appointing Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as the country's first female Vice President, shattering the long-standing gender barrier since independence. As the world watches, the question arises: could she ascend to the presidency? Can a girl dream of such a position? The answer is a resounding yes, and it should be a dream that resonates loudly.
Let's delve into the capabilities of Ghana's Vice President and explore the challenges women in leadership face.
Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, an elegant and accomplished figure, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Her credentials include a former role as Minister of Education from 2013 to 2017, a literary scholar, university vice-chancellor, and the first woman to lead a major political party's ticket. However, this excellence often leads to a peculiar issue: women's achievements sometimes result in being overlooked.
Michelle Obama's observations about her grandmother's workplace experiences are telling. She noted that qualified women often encounter glass ceilings, while less qualified men advance. This phenomenon is evident in Ghana, where women constitute 51.2% of the population but hold only 15.6% of parliamentary seats, falling far short of the United Nations' 30% benchmark. When half the population holds less than a sixth of the power, it's a clear sign of a systemic issue.
Critics might point to Tanzania as an example, where Samia Suluhu Hassan became the country's first female president in 2021. However, her leadership took a turn towards authoritarianism, facing criticism for repression and electoral irregularities. The key point is that Hassan's descent into authoritarianism is not solely about her gender; it's about power dynamics and political systems that favor strong-handed leadership. Her party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, has held power since 1961, indicating a deeper issue within democracy.
The challenge women in leadership face is a delicate tightrope walk. They are often perceived as too soft, ineffective, or too emotional, while men who exhibit similar traits are seen as decisive or diplomatic. This stereotype traps women, regardless of their actions. A man's firm stance is praised as decisive, while a woman's is labeled as bossy. A man's consensus-building is seen as diplomatic, but a woman's is viewed as weak.
In Ghana, research reveals that 95% of candidates experience degrading talk and false rumors, a form of political violence affecting both men and women. However, when directed at women, it carries extra weight, scrutiny, and consequences. The burden of representation means that one woman's perceived failure becomes a weapon against all women's ambitions.
Now, let's address the elephant in the room: Is Professor Opoku-Agyemang qualified to be president? The question is not about her qualifications but what more she needs to prove. She has navigated Ghana's education system as a scholar and minister, overseeing improvements in school infrastructure and access to education. Her leadership at one of Africa's largest universities and her experience in national campaigns showcase her understanding of the Ghanaian pulse.
Comparing her qualifications to those of men who have sought the presidency, it becomes evident that women must justify their ambitions more exhaustively. Political pundits often question whether countries are 'ready' for female leaders, as if women's leadership is an exotic novelty. However, a 2022 survey revealed that 67% of Ghanaians support women's political parity, indicating that the people are ready.
The question is whether the structures will allow it. Ghana's Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Act, passed in July 2024, mandates at least 30% female representation in public decision-making bodies by 2026 and 50% by 2030. While this is revolutionary on paper, the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection remains underfunded, and the act lacks clear enforcement mechanisms for parliamentary positions.
Laws without teeth are merely suggestions, and suggestions cannot dismantle centuries of patriarchal power structures. Professor Opoku-Agyemang's presidency could represent a shift towards possibility, not perfection. It would prove that leadership doesn't require a Y chromosome and expand the circle of those shaping policies. She would undoubtedly face scrutiny, with every decision dissected through a gendered lens and the weight of representing all women on her shoulders.
As Michelle Obama wisely stated, no country can flourish if it stifles women's potential and deprives itself of their contributions. Ghana has flourished despite excluding women from its highest office. Imagine the potential if it embraces them. With 2028 approaching, Professor Opoku-Agyemang has three years to demonstrate her vision for Ghana. It's a time for political parties to decide if the Affirmative Action Act is genuine or merely decorative. Ghanaians must also examine their biases about who 'looks' presidential. For a girl to dream of being president, and for that dream to become a reality, the answer is clear: yes, a girl can dream, and in 2028, Ghana might just dream along with her.
