News
Ghana makes history with first female Vice President-elect, Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyeman
Ghana has made history by electing its first female Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman. This milestone marks a significant step forward for women’s representation in Ghanaian politics.
This is also a testament to the progress Ghana has made in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment which has the tendency to inspire future generations of women to pursue careers in politics and public service.
This historic feat comes at a time that Ghana’s Parliament had passed the Affirmative Action and Gender Equity law which has been assented by the President, a legal document to demand gender parity in Ghana.
Currently, the agenda to increase women’s participation in political leadership is receiving universal support through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 5.5 which seeks to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership, and at all levels of decision-making including political, economic and public life.
Women’s representation in political decision making continues to increase but at a dragging pace, years after the Beijing Platform for Action, which remains the world’s most comprehensive agenda for gender equality.
Globally, research by the United Nations Women (UN Women) estimates that men represent 77 per cent of parliamentarians, 82 per cent of government ministers, 93 per cent of heads of government and 94 per cent of heads of state.
Today, it is possible for one to name all of the current female leaders within few minutes, which is why whenever a woman gets to the top of an organisation or political party, it makes global headlines.
Since the nomination of Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman as the running mate of NDC’s flag bearer, many women groups have issued congratulatory messages with many women fan clubs springing up.
In order to pave way for women and girls to enter into politics in the near future, Ghana’s Vice President-elect on Monday reaffirmed her commitment to inclusivity and empowerment and vowed to pave the way for others to succeed in her groundbreaking role.
She said her election as the first vice president in Ghana’s history was not about personal glory but it was about creating opportunity for all.
Prof Opoku-Agyeman said “I know this is a big responsibility, and I don’t intend to travel the journey by myself. You are all part of it. NDC is an inclusive party, and we are demonstrating it in many ways.
“My job was to open the door and it does not end there, actually, that is where the work begins. I will hold the door open. The method is holding the door open so other wish to travel that door is what I’m implying. It is not self-aggrandising positing, it is a position that empowers others”, she said.
Prof Opoku-Agyeman called on all Ghanaian to contribute to the collective goal of improving collective growth particularly for the marginalized and vulnerable in society.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
News
Election 2024: ‘Men of God under siege as prophecies go wrong’
Periodic elections have always come along with spiritual twists and the lead up to this year’s presidential and parliamentary election in Ghana was no exception.
Prior to the polls on December 7, 2024, several men of God gave prophecies which either proposed a win or loss for either of the two leading contenders in this year’s race – Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
However, following outcome of the election which gave an emphatic win for Mr Mahama who polled 6,328,397 representing 56.55 per cent of the total votes cast, many Ghanaians have raised eyebrows over the genuineness of these ‘Men of God’.
Notable among those that prophesied a one-touch victory for Vice President and flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Bawumia, were founder and leader of the Power Chapel Worldwide, Dr Victor Kusi Boateng.
As far back in July 2024, during a church service, Dr Boateng predicted that Dr. Bawumia would be declared the winner on December 9, after the polls.
Others were Apostle Agyenim Boateng of the Peniel Outreach Ministries International, Prophet Azuka who dared doubters of Dr Bawumia’s win to burn his church to the ground should he lose and Prophet Kusi Appiah (Warrior prophet) of the Charismatic Temple International Ministry (CTIM) who went further to describe an attire Dr Bawumia and his running mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, would wear for their inauguration on January 7, 2025.
On the other hand, Prophet Bernard Elbernard Nelson-Eshun, Head pastor of the Springs of Life Chapel International, Prophet Nigel Gaisie of the Prophetic Hill Chapel, Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, founder and leader of Glorious Word Power Ministry International and Prophet Emmanuel Badu Kobi, Glorious Wave Church International, prophesied a landslide win for John Dramani Mahama.
With an overwhelming win for the opposition NDC and John Dramani Mahama as president-elect at the end of polls as declared by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Mensah, some pastors who predicted a loss for Mr Mahama have spoken.
Rev. Kusi Boateng, delivering a sermon last Sunday, December during church service insisted he saw and prophesied right.
“I saw right, I heard right but the opposite has happened and there is nothing I can do. I will not blame God and this will not stop me from prophesying because God never gets it wrong. If there is any mistake, I made the mistake,” he said.
For Evangelist Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as Nana Agradaa who is General Overseer of the Heaven Way Chapel who swore a win for Dr Bawumia, claiming to return to fetishism if Mr Mahama wins, reacting to the turn of events said, Dr Bawumia’s loss was as a result of disobedience.
“I saw clearly that NPP has won the elections and I was instructed to openly declare it but there was a direction that from the time of the prophecy till the election results are declared, Dr Bawumia should always wear white and change the slogan from “It is possible” to “It is possible to win” among other spiritual instructions to be performed to support fulfillment.
However, these instructions to the party were not obeyed leading to their loss,” she said in a media interview amidst wild jubilation with her church members last Sunday following Mr Mahama’s win of the 2024 elections.
The question remains though that are electoral prophecies really from God or they are borne out of one’s love and affinity to parties involved?
By Abigail Annoh
News
ABANTU for Development hail Prof Naana Jane, EC boss
ABANTU for Development, a non-governmental organisation and Women’s Manifesto Coalition (WMC) Ghana have congratulated Ghana’s first female President-Elect, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on her feat.
The groups also lauded Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensah, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission for organising a peaceful election.
ABANTU for Development, a women’s right policy advocacy organisation described as proud moments in Ghana’s history the roles played by the two women.
A statement copied to The Spectator in Accra on Tuesday, said that “This is what will improve and enhance gender responsiveness in the implementation of legislation, development of national security frameworks and policy outcomes for everyone” she explained.
It specially congratulated Mrs Jean Mensah for ensuring a peaceful election in both 2020 and 2024 elections.
It said “women are very versatile” and advised that women were given more roles in parliament to champion a positive cause.
“We are confident that Mrs Jean Mensah will remain steadfast and focused in serving the country by providing a powerful voice in the area of governance.”
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
