Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called for a united national approach to protecting the vulnerable and ensuring gender inclusivity across all sectors, as she joined the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to launch Breast Cancer Awareness Month and commemorate the International Day of Older Persons.
At the event, which carried the theme “Catch it Early; Treat it Right; Survive it,” the Vice President, together with Gender Minister Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, cut the ribbon to officially open the initiative.
The ceremony was marked by breast cancer screening sessions, music, and intergenerational interaction, including the Vice President sharing light moments with the aged and even joining them in a dance.
“Today is a call to action to learn to take care of our people who are in all kinds of situations, including those who are differently abled. That is how they are and we need to look at them as God’s special gifts to us”
Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang
She congratulated the Ministry and its staff, expressing solidarity with those affected by breast cancer, stressing that such groups must be continually supported to live ordinary lives free of undue burdens.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also used the occasion to react to recent developments at KNUST Senior High School, where an assistant headmaster was dismissed after a viral video placed him at the centre of a misconduct scandal with a student.
“It is not good news,” she lamented, expressing disappointment that such incidents continue to recur despite efforts to strengthen awareness and accountability. The Vice President explained that beyond schools, issues of abuse and exploitation were deeply tied to power and responsibility, and called for sustained public education.
“It’s also a question of some of us not paying attention to the nature of the responsibilities given to us in any place or way,” she said.
She insisted that institutions must be held accountable, while emphasizing that gender conversations must not leave out men and boys, noting that a holistic approach was crucial to change attitudes nationwide.
Broadening Gender Discourse
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged Ghanaians to rethink the tendency to equate gender exclusively with women, pointing out that men and other vulnerable groups also require protection.
“Where are the men in the room? Don’t worry, you’re all part of it. Okay? It’s very, very important,” the Vice President said. She cautioned that while data often shows women disproportionately represented among disadvantaged groups, this should not lead to overlooking other vulnerable populations.
According to her, inclusivity requires balancing targeted interventions for women with recognition of broader social needs.
The Vice President further underscored that women are already central in every sector of national life, from education and health to finance, agriculture, and security and should not be sidelined in any way.
Looking ahead, she called for all ministries to adopt stronger gender-sensitive planning to reduce over-reliance on the Gender Ministry alone. To underscore her point, she referenced Ghanaian social life, asking, “Can you imagine one Sunday service without us?”
The Vice President’s remarks framed gender not as a marginal issue but as a central factor in national development, calling for equal participation and inclusivity across institutions. The event ended on a lighter note, with Prof. Opoku-Agyemang requesting one of Ephraim Amu’s legendary songs, “Adikanfo,” to crown her message.
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