Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called on Ghanaian women to refuse to be belittled or intimidated because of their gender.
Speaking at the maiden All-National Forum on Women in Government and Media at the Jubilee House, she urged a shift in how women are portrayed in public life.
“We must refuse to be belittled or intimidated simply because we are women,” she said. “The narrative must change. It cannot always be about appearance. It must highlight competence, intelligence and leadership.”
The Vice President stressed that women’s contributions to national development should not be overshadowed by stereotypes or superficial commentary.
Also addressing the forum, the leader of the Women’s Caucus in Parliament, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe, lamented the low level of female representation in the legislature, noting that “Out of 276 Members of Parliament, only 41 are women. That is significantly low,” she stated. “We need sustained advocacy and stronger protective measures to increase female participation, especially in Parliament.”
Touching on criticisms that often trail women in leadership, she referenced debates about the academic background of the vice president at the time of her nomination, revealing that “Leadership must be measured by performance, not stereotypes,” she noted. “Let us assess people by what they deliver, not by preconceived notions.”
She further encouraged women to redefine power and embrace their identity with confidence. “We are proud to be women,” she said. “We must reshape the concept of power and not allow societal biases to undermine our confidence.”
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah also called for closer collaboration between women in government and women in the media, highlighting, “When women in media and women in government work together, their voices become stronger and more influential,” he said. “That collaboration is critical for national development.”
The Vice President concluded by underscoring the responsibility of women journalists and editors in shaping public discourse.
“Your presence changes perspective,” she emphasised. “And that perspective is essential in redefining leadership and power in our country.”
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