Ghana made history on Tuesday as Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was sworn in as the nation’s first female Vice President, alongside John Dramani Mahama, who returned to the presidency after a decisive victory in the December elections.
The oath-taking ceremony, led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, took place at the Independence Square in Accra, marking an important moment for gender equality in the country.
Opoku-Agyemang’s achievement is seen as an important milestone for Ghana, a country traditionally conservative when it comes to gender representation in politics.
A professor of literature and former Minister of Education, Opoku-Agyemang was first nominated as Mahama’s running mate in 2020, becoming the first woman to appear on a major political party’s presidential ticket in Ghana. Her re-nomination in 2024 and their subsequent victory have solidified her place in history.
John Mahama, returning to the presidency after seven years, has taken over from Nana Akufo-Addo, who defeated him in 2017.
Mahama now faces the challenge of tackling youth unemployment, corruption, and other pressing issues that remained unresolved from his previous term.
Their victory is seen as a turning point, with many Ghanaians hopeful that this administration will bring much-needed reforms.
A 2022 survey showed that 67% of Ghanaians support political equality for women, highlighting the importance of Opoku-Agyemang’s rise to the vice presidency.
As the new leadership takes office, Ghanaians are looking forward to a fresh chapter in governance, with the promise of inclusivity and progress at its core.
