On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Ghana’s Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has reiterated the country’s commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Delivering her message in line with this year’s theme, Accelerate Action, she emphasized the need to remove longstanding barriers that hinder women’s full participation in national development.
“We do not only recognize the profound contributions of women in every sphere of society, but we also affirm our commitment to breaking the barriers that have long hindered our full participation in the nation’s progress”.
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
Professor Opoku-Agyemang underscored the critical role women play in Ghana’s economic, social, and political landscape.
From market traders to business executives, teachers to scientists, farmers to policymakers, she noted that women continue to drive innovation, nurture growth, and shape the nation’s future.
Highlighting the indispensable role of women, the Vice President stressed that Ghanaian women are the backbone of the nation.
She emphasized the contributions of women across business, governance, education, healthcare, and the sciences, stating that their impact is invaluable to national development.
However, she acknowledged that despite the progress made, many systemic obstacles still limit women’s full participation in decision-making and economic growth.
Government’s Commitment to Women’s Empowerment
Vice President Opoku-Agyemang highlighted the efforts of the current administration under President John Dramani Mahama to promote gender equality.
She pointed to key initiatives aimed at fostering women’s empowerment, including the Women’s Development Bank – a financial support initiative that would soon provide capital and other resources to women entrepreneurs, ensuring they have the means to expand their businesses.
On affirmative action in leadership and governance, the Vice President reaffirmed the NDC administration’s commitment to champion policies aimed at increasing female representation in decision-making spaces, ensuring that women have a stronger voice in governance.
According to her, these initiatives mark significant progress, but they must be sustained and expanded to truly level the playing field for women in Ghana.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang stressed that while progress has been made, the journey towards true equality is far from over.
She acknowledged the persistent challenges that women face across all sectors but expressed optimism that increasing female representation in leadership will open doors for more women to achieve their full potential.
“We all must do better to support the women of Ghana. As we celebrate this day, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to building a Ghana where every woman and girl has the freedom to dream, the power to achieve, and the support to excel.”
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Vice President called on all stakeholders, including the government, civil society, businesses, and individuals, to take concrete actions that ensure women and girls are given equal opportunities to succeed.
“Empowering women is not just a woman’s issue. It is a national imperative. When women thrive, families, communities, and nations prosper,” she added.
President Mahama’s Message: Building on Momentum
Echoing the Vice President’s sentiments, President John Dramani Mahama also shared a message in commemoration of International Women’s Day.
He acknowledged the strides Ghana has made in gender equality, particularly in electing its first female Vice President, but urged the country to build on this momentum.
“This year’s theme, #AccelerateAction, calls for urgent measures to ensure that we achieve gender equality. We must all prioritize empowering and uplifting women in every sphere, from education and business to politics and leadership. Let’s work together to create a Ghana where every woman has the opportunity to reach her full potential.”
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The President’s message reinforced the administration’s dedication to ensuring that women continue to have access to opportunities, resources, and the necessary support to excel.
As Ghana joins the rest of the world in celebrating International Women’s Day, the calls from both the Vice President and the President serve as a rallying cry for all sectors of society to work collectively toward gender equality.
Ghana has taken significant steps in the journey toward gender equality, but the work is far from over. Today’s celebration serves as both a reflection on achievements and a reminder of the urgent actions needed to build a more inclusive future for all.
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