Imagine a world where women effortlessly lead in every sphere; politics, business, education, and proving that success has no gender. Ghana recently gave us a glimpse of that world when Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang made history as the country’s first female Vice President on January 7, 2025.  

Professor Opoku-Agyemang’s early life was like many of ours, she completed her B.Ed. (Hons) in English and French at the University of Cape Coast in 1977. She earned a Diploma in Advanced Studies in French from the University of Dakar and her master’s and Doctorate degrees from York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1980 and 1986, respectively.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang didn’t stop at academia. In 2013, she transitioned into public service as Ghana’s Minister of Education. Her tenure was marked by policies that emphasized inclusivity and access to quality education, especially for marginalized communities. She served as the first female Vice-Chancellor of a state university in Ghana before taking over as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast.

In October 2009, she was elected Ghana’s representative to the executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). In the December 2020 Ghanaian presidential election, John Mahama selected her as his running mate on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party ticket. After she lost the election, she returned to the classroom and in August 2024, she resigned as the Vice-Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa in Zimbabwe to join politics.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang was selected again as running mate to Mahama in 2024 and won, becoming the first female Vice President of Ghana. This achievement is a win not just for Ghana but for all African women. It’s proof that we can rewrite the narrative, no matter how tough the journey.

To every woman reading this: let her story be your inspiration to dream, to push boundaries, and to believe in your worth.

Remember, the world is waiting to celebrate your light. Don’t dim it for anyone!

SOURCES

https://educationnewscanada.com/article/education/level/university/1/1119803/york-u-alumna-makes-history-as-ghana-s-first-female-vice-president.html

https://businessday.ng/africa/article/10-things-to-know-about-jane-opoku-agyemang-ghanas-newly-sworn-in-first-female-vp/#google_vignette