Lessons for Nigerian women as Ghana gets first female VP

In a historic turn of events, Ghana has made significant strides in gender representation with the election of Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as the country’s first female Vice President. This milestone places Ghana among just 17 African nations that have had a woman in the vice presidency, making it a noteworthy development for gender equality in politics. Opoku-Agyemang, a distinguished professor of Literature, now serves as a role model for women aspiring to higher political offices across the continent.

“According to a report by Vanguard News, While Ghana celebrates this achievement, the implications for Nigerian women are profound. Ghana’s political landscape has seen steady improvements in female participation over the years, especially in parliament. The number of women in the Ghanaian parliament has grown gradually, with the 2024 elections marking a slight plateau at 41 women out of 275. Despite this, Ghana has made more tangible progress than Nigeria, where female representation in the national legislature has dwindled sharply since the Fourth Republic, dropping to a meager 4.2% in 2023.

Ghana’s journey to electing a female Vice President did not happen by chance. The country has focused on building a strategic path for women in politics, evident in the implementation of an Affirmative Action law that was passed in 2024. Such legal frameworks, coupled with active political parties that supported the candidacy of Opoku-Agyemang, underscore the commitment to promoting gender parity. The National Democratic Congress (NDC), her party, managed to secure a decisive victory in the elections, positioning Opoku-Agyemang for higher office in the future.

For Nigeria, the situation is starkly different. Despite the Affirmative Action law passed in 2022, Nigerian women continue to face numerous barriers, including political parties’ reluctance to field women candidates and the dominance of a patriarchal culture. Nigerian women’s limited success in the political arena can be attributed to several factors, including inadequate grassroots engagement, political party bias, and the economic challenges that often overshadow political campaigns.

However, the election of a female Vice President in Ghana provides important lessons for Nigerian women. Political parties must prioritize gender parity, and women must work towards building trust with voters by focusing on policies that address the needs of the people. Success requires a blend of strategy, commitment, and the ability to connect with the grassroots.

Both Ghana and Nigeria have a long road ahead in the fight for gender equality in politics, but the recent developments in Ghana may serve as a beacon of hope for Nigerian women seeking to break political barriers.