Akosua Frema Opare: Paving the Way for Ghana’s First Female Vice President – Part Two
The Role of Women in a Patriarchal Society
For far too long, women have faced significant obstacles in a society dominated by traditional gender roles. These roles have confined women to domestic duties and childrearing, while men were expected to be breadwinners and leaders. This gender segregation has marginalized women, and those who dared to challenge the status quo were often stigmatized. Women who pursued similar roles as men were paid less and frequently denied opportunities for growth and promotion, relegating them to lower rungs of organizational hierarchies.
The Role of Women in the 4th Industrial Revolution
Thanks to the pioneering efforts of trailblazers like Rosa Parks and Ghana’s own Yaa Asantewaa, a significant paradigm shift has occurred, challenging traditional gender roles. This revolution, continuously fueled, has liberated women from the confines of traditional societal expectations. As Beyoncé famously said, “Girls run the world.” Today, women have demonstrated exemplary competence in various levels of leadership. Political figures such as Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel, and Jacinda Ardern have shown that women can lead effectively on the global stage. The United States now has its first female Vice President, and it nearly elected a female president in 2016. It is now Ghana’s turn, and Akosua Frema Opare stands ready to lead.
The Ghana Example Today
Ghana has made significant strides in promoting women to leadership positions, including:
- Akosua Frema Opare – Ghana’s first female Chief of Staff
- Hajia Alima Mahama – Ghana’s first female Ambassador to the United States
- Mary Chinery-Hesse and Nana Aba Appiah Amfo – University of Ghana’s first female Chancellor and Vice Chancellor, respectively
- Rita Akosua Dickson and Yvonne Osei Adobea – KNUST’s first female Vice Chancellor and SRC President, respectively
- Abena Osei-Poku – Absa Bank’s first female CEO
- Ing. Harriet Amui – The first female President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE)
These accomplishments reaffirm that it is time for Ghana to have its first female Vice President.
The Candidacy of Akosua Frema Opare
Akosua Frema Opare, hailing from Wiamose in the Ashanti Region, is an exemplary candidate for Ghana’s first female Vice President. She completed her secondary education at St. Monica’s Senior High School, Mampong, before attending the University of Ghana and the University of Guelph in Canada. Opare is a seasoned politician, lecturer, and consultant on social and developmental issues. Her extensive experience in both the executive and legislative branches of government will complement the presidency, providing invaluable insights into parliamentary perspectives. The time for women’s leadership has come, and Akosua Frema Opare is the woman to lead Ghana into a new era.
Source: Hon. Benjamin Armah, NPP WNR Chairman
