On Tuesday, 7 January 2025, Ghana made history by swearing in a woman as vice president. Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, a 73-year-old academic and politician became the Vice President of Mr John Mahama on the pair’s second attempt as a ticket. This feat for Ghana and Africa came just three months after Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico’s first female president in October 2024. It is an exciting time for Africa to have many more female role models of that stature as the continent gradually shapes the face of its leadership.
Mr Mahama certainly didn’t miss the opportunity to highlight the significance of that milestone when he delivered his inaugural speech on Tuesday, 7 January 2025:
With Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang by my side, we are poised to embark on a journey of progress and inclusivity, united in our vision for a more prosperous Ghana. This day is particularly special for us and every Ghanaian who dreams of a society where barriers are shattered and ambitions are realised. With the inauguration of Ghana’s first female Vice President, we have turned a significant page in our history. Naana Jane’s ascension to this high office is not merely a personal triumph; it symbolises our collective commitment to fostering a nation where gender equality and female representation are cherished and amplified.
This is a powerful testament to the power of diverse voices to shape the future—voices that have the courage to soar beyond traditional confines. Together, as we look to the horizon, we reaffirm our dedication to breaking the glass ceiling that has long hindered many from reaching their full potential—Governance that reflects all segments of our population strengthens our democracy and enriches our conversations.
We stand committed to enacting policies that empower women and ensure that the doors of opportunity swing wide open for our youth, regardless of their background. Together, we will galvanise our efforts to create a society where every Ghanaian can dream, believe, and achieve without restraint.
Opoku-Agyemang stands on the shoulders of contemporaries such as Ethiopia’s President Sahle-Work Zewde (since October 2018), Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan (since March 2021), Namibia’s Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila (since March 2015), Togo’s Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah Dogbé (since September 2020), and Tunisia’s Prime Minister Najla Bouden Romdhane (since 2021).
The foundation was laid for them by the likes of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia): Africa’s first elected female president, serving from 2006 to 2018, Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda of Gabon, who served as Vice President and Prime Minister; Joyce Banda of Malawi, Catherine Samba-Panza of the Central African Republic, and Luísa Dias Diogo of Mozambique. These women have defied the odds, often stepping into roles dominated by men to steer their nations through turbulent times.
The list is not limited to Africa. In the Americas, there is Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados (since May 2018), and President Xiomara Castro of Honduras (since January 2022). Asia has President Droupadi Murmu of India (since July 2022) and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Thailand (since August 2024).
Europe tops the list with eleven female leaders including Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (since June 2019), Greece’s President Katerina Sakellaropoulou (since March 2020), Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (since October 2022), Lithuania’s Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė (since November 2020) and Moldova’s President Maia Sandu (since December 2020). The others are Slovenia’s President Nataša Pirc Musar (since December 2022), Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (since September 2023), North Macedonia’s President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova (since May 2024), and Malta’s President Myriam Spiteri Debono (since April 2024). The last two are Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Member of the Presidency Željka Cvijanović (since November 2022) and the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of the same country, Borjana Krišto (since January 2023).
Oceania gave the world Samoan Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa (since May 2021) and Marshall Islands’ President Hilda Heine (since January 2024).
This list reflects the global presence of female leadership across various regions.
As of 10 January 2024, women occupy the highest power seats in only 26 countries worldwide, with just 15 women serving as Heads of State and 16 as Heads of Government. According to UN Women, at the current pace of progress, gender equality in these roles will not be achieved for another 130 years.
Newly compiled data from UN Women reveals that women represent just 22.8% of Cabinet members heading key ministries as of January 2023. Only 13 countries have achieved gender parity in Cabinet positions. Most women ministers are concentrated in portfolios such as Women and Gender Equality, Family and Children’s Affairs, Social Inclusion, Social Protection, and Indigenous and Minority Affairs. Meanwhile, women make up 26.5% of parliamentarians in lower or single houses globally, an improvement from 11% in 1995, but still far from parity. At the current rate, gender balance in national legislatures will not be reached until 2063.
Where Women Lead the Way
Globally, just six countries have achieved 50% or more women in their national parliaments: Rwanda (61%), Cuba (53%), Nicaragua (52%), Mexico (50%), New Zealand (50%), and the United Arab Emirates (50%). An additional 23 countries have surpassed 40%, including 13 in Europe, six in Africa, three in Latin America and the Caribbean, and one in Asia. In contrast, 22 nations have less than 10% female representation in their legislatures, with one lower chamber having no women at all.
Regionally, women hold 36% of parliamentary seats in Latin America and the Caribbean, 32% in Europe and North America, and 26% in Sub-Saharan Africa. The numbers drop further in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (22%), Oceania (20%), Central and Southern Asia (19%), and Northern Africa and Western Asia (18%).
African Women in Leadership: A Brief History
Global Firsts: Pioneers in Women’s Leadership
History records a series of groundbreaking moments for women in leadership. Khertek Anchimaa-Toka of the Tuvan People’s Republic was the first woman to lead a country in 1940. Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka became the world’s first female prime minister in 1960. Isabel Perón of Argentina was the first woman to serve as president, assuming office in 1974. Iceland’s Vigdís Finnbogadóttir holds the record as the longest-serving elected female head of state, serving from 1980 to 1996. Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh is the longest-serving female head of government, with over two decades in office.
The Case for Women Leaders in Africa
For decades, male leadership has dominated Africa’s political stage, often with devastating consequences. Wars, corruption, poverty, and mismanagement have been recurrent themes under male-led administrations. Dynastic regimes, such as the Bongos of Gabon or the Nguemas of Equatorial Guinea, have treated nations as family assets, plundering resources and suppressing dissent. Meanwhile, progress in poverty reduction lags behind other regions, with Sub-Saharan Africa still grappling with extreme poverty affecting 35% of its population in 2019.
In stark contrast, the few women leaders Africa has seen are rarely associated with such systemic abuses. Their leadership styles often emphasise social welfare, education, and healthcare. Women leaders are perceived to bring a maternal perspective to governance, prioritising policies that uplift vulnerable populations—women, children, and the elderly.
Why More Women in Power Could Transform Africa
Women, by their nature as caregivers, often understand the struggles of marginalised groups better than their male counterparts. They are less likely to engage in corruption, perpetuate senseless wars, or cling to power through authoritarian means. Instead, they are more inclined to champion inclusive policies, promote gender equality, and invest in sectors such as education, health, and agriculture.
The increasing presence of women in top political positions has been associated with several advantages:
1. Promotion of Social Equity and Legal Reforms
The World Economic Forum notes that female leaders often prioritise legislation that addresses inequality and enhances social welfare. Countries with higher numbers of female political leaders typically pass more laws that remove inequality and score higher on the World Bank’s Women, Business, and the Law (WBL) Index, which measures legal equality of economic opportunity.
2. Enhanced Collaboration and Productivity
According to the American Psychological Association, research indicates that women in leadership roles contribute to increased productivity and improved workplace environments. Decades of studies show women leaders help increase productivity, enhance collaboration, inspire organisational dedication, and improve fairness.
3. Advocacy for Community and Family Welfare
Women in leadership positions tend to advocate policies benefiting children and local communities. When women are in sufficient numbers in parliaments, they promote children’s rights and tend to speak up more for the interests of communities, local communities, because of their close involvement in community life, Our World notes.
4. Economic Prosperity
Nations with greater female representation in government often experience higher economic growth and prosperity, argues the Oliver Wyman Forum, which notes that countries with higher numbers of female political leaders typically pass more laws that remove inequality and score higher on the World Bank’s Women, Business, and the Law (WBL) Index, which measures legal equality of economic opportunity.
5. Strengthening Democratic Processes
RepresentWomen stresses that advancing towards gender parity not only empowers women but also strengthens democracy and serves the entire nation.
Conclusion
If African homes—largely managed by women—are a testament to resourcefulness and resilience, why not extend this maternal wisdom to national leadership? Women’s participation at the highest levels of government could be the antidote to decades of mismanagement, offering a fresh perspective to solve Africa’s most pressing challenges.
The election of Naana Jane presents real opportunities to bring significant balance to the political rulership of the Republic of Ghana. There is every indication that policies would be more gender balanced should the promises made during the campaigning be implemented. The notion of a bank to support micro businesses managed by women implies women’s economic empowerment within the medium term. Furthermore, her election to the high office of the Vice President presents her as a role model for many Ghanaian and West African young women who have hitherto been only parliamentarians and Ministers at best (except in the case of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia). Overall, becoming a role model as a driver of economic and political progress for Ghanaian women is highly anticipated, as she is expected to bring a new dimension to the political landscape of governance of Ghana.
