The Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has called for a renewed national commitment to increasing women’s representation in leadership, particularly in politics and academia.
Speaking at the She Builds Conference organised by The Academic Woman Foundation in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, the Gender Minister paid tribute to the historic leadership of Ghana’s first female Vice President, Prof. Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
According to her, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s position was a powerful symbol for young girls and women across Ghana.
“I am particularly honoured to have the first Vice President of Ghana, Prof. Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang. Her being in this position serves as a beacon of hope for many young girls coming up, especially for those of us in politics and academia as well,” Naa Momo Lartey said.
However, the Minister was candid about the slow pace of progress, pointing to the stark disparity between Ghana’s female population and their representation in political decision-making.
“But let us be honest with ourselves—progress is uneven. Women make up 52% of Ghana’s population, yet less than 15% of parliamentary seats [are occupied by women],” she noted.
The She Builds Conference, aimed at empowering women in academia and leadership, brought together female scholars, policymakers, and advocates to discuss barriers to gender equality and propose sustainable solutions.
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