Ghana’s primary opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has chosen Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, 72, a former education minister and the first female vice-chancellor of a Ghanaian public university, as the running mate for presidential candidate John Mahama in the upcoming December polls.
Described as a trailblazer for women in leadership, she held the position of education minister from 2013 to 2017.
The NDC emphasised her pioneering role in Ghana’s leadership landscape in an official statement.
“Her nomination underscores the NDC’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and the empowerment of women in leadership roles,” the party added.
In the 2020 presidential polls, Prof Opoku-Agyemang teamed up with former President Mahama, but their joint efforts fell short, allowing current President Nana Akufo-Addo to secure a second term.
Her inclusion in the 2020 candidacy marked a historic moment as Ghana witnessed a major political party selecting its first female vice-presidential candidate.
Should she be elected, Prof Opoku-Agyemang is poised to create history as Ghana’s inaugural female vice-president.