The rise of Her Excellency Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang to the high office of Vice President of Ghana represents a historic inflection point in Ghana’s democratic evolution.
In a political landscape long dominated by men, her elevation signals both progress and possibility. Yet history is shaped not only by milestones achieved but also by the choices that follow them.
The question of whether she should contest the upcoming presidential primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is therefore not merely political; it is symbolic and generational in its implications.
This article argues that her participation in the NDC presidential primaries, regardless of the outcome, would constitute a transformative moment for women’s political advancement in Ghana and across Africa. Conversely, her absence, unless grounded in compelling personal considerations such as health, risks reinforcing the notion of a “glass ceiling” in Ghanaian politics.
Before entering executive politics, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang had already etched her name into Ghana’s academic and public service history. She was the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, a position she held with distinction. Her tenure as Minister for Education further demonstrated her administrative competence and policy depth, particularly in advancing access to education.
As political theorist Drude Dahlerup notes, “It is not the number of women that matters most, but the presence of women who act to change the system.” Jane embodies this principle, not merely as a symbolic figure, but as a substantive actor within Ghana’s governance architecture.
A decision by Ghana’s first female Vice President not to contest for the highest office may inadvertently signal that women’s leadership has an upper limit.
Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf once observed: “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” Her own candidacy and eventual presidency were not merely personal achievements but continental statements, redefining what African women could aspire to politically.
The concept of the “glass ceiling” remains a persistent analytical tool in gender studies. It describes the invisible barriers that prevent women from reaching top leadership positions despite apparent progress. If Ghana’s first female Vice President does not contest the presidency, it may reinforce the perception that women can rise, but only to a point. Such an outcome would have broader implications. It could dampen the aspirations of younger women, weaken advocacy efforts, and slow the momentum of gender-inclusive political reforms.
It is important to acknowledge that women have previously stepped forward to contest the presidency in Ghana. Figures such as Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, Akua Donkor, Brigitte Akosua Dzogbenuku, and Nana Akosua Frimpomaa have demonstrated commendable courage in entering the presidential space.
However, the structural limitations of smaller parties have often meant that such efforts have not fully disrupted the entrenched perception that viable presidential power remains concentrated within the two major political traditions, NDC and NPP.
It is precisely this gap that elevates the significance of a potential candidacy from within a major party. The decision before H.E. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang transcends personal political calculus. It is, fundamentally, a question of legacy. Participation in the NDC presidential primaries would not only consolidate her place in Ghana’s political history but also advance the broader cause of women’s leadership across Africa.
It must be emphasized that the Vice President has not previously contested a direct political election, having risen through appointment and selection within party structures. While this trajectory reflects confidence in her competence and leadership, it may inadvertently reinforce a troubling perception that women are more readily associated with appointed roles than with competitive electoral mandates.
In a political culture where legitimacy is often derived from the rigours of contestation, her decision not to enter the presidential primaries could deepen the narrative that women tend to “hold positions” rather than “fight for them.”
So, the decision before H.E. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang transcends personal political calculus. It is, fundamentally, a question of legacy.
Win or lose, her candidacy would leave an indelible imprint, affirming that the highest offices of the land are within reach for women. To abstain, on the other hand, may inadvertently slow the very movement her career has come to symbolize.
That said, it is important to acknowledge that some leadership decisions are also deeply personal. Legitimate considerations, including health, may justifiably shape such choices. Yet, in the absence of such constraints, the weight of history and the promise of the future suggest that stepping forward is not merely an option but a responsibility.
The path she chooses will not only define her political journey but also influence the trajectory of women’s political participation in Ghana and beyond.
And indeed, during her formal outdooring ceremony as the Vice-Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on July 27, 2020, at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), she said, “Making history is gratifying, but what really matters is not to be the first through the door; what matters is to hold that door open for those behind us”.
Your Excellency, please hold that door!
Source: Dr. Kwame Adinkrah | PhD
