President John Dramani Mahama has declared that Ghana is on the path toward electing its first female president, signaling what many observers see as a historic shift in the country’s political and gender landscape.
Speaking at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, China, on Monday, October 13, the Ghanaian leader reaffirmed his government’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment message that resonated strongly with the international audience, including President Xi Jinping of China and several other Heads of State.
“My country, Ghana, remains steadfast in its pursuit of gender equality and empowerment of our women,” President Mahama stated. “Under my leadership and in my capacity as the African Union Champion for Gender and Women’s Empowerment, the Government of Ghana has continued to take decisive steps to mainstream gender across our national development policies.”
The president highlighted what he described as “historic milestones”, pointing to the election of Ghana’s first female vice president and the unprecedented appointment of women to leadership positions in government, the judiciary, the security services, and other national institutions.
“These are not just symbolic gestures,” he emphasized. “They are deliberate affirmations that women deserve a seat at the table of the highest levels of decision-making.”
Mahama’s most striking comment came toward the end of his speech when he expressed confidence that Ghana’s political glass ceiling would soon be shattered.
“I am confident that in the very near future, our women will break the glass ceiling and there will be a woman president of the Republic of Ghana,” he declared to applause.
His statement has since sparked intense political discussion back home, especially within the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Many political analysts and social commentators believe President Mahama’s words may have been a subtle nod to the current Vice President, Her Excellency Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has been widely praised for her composure, intellect, and growing popularity within the party.
The comment has reignited speculation that the NDC may be grooming her for a presidential run in the 2028 elections, a move that would make her the first woman to lead a major political party into a general election in Ghana’s history.
Whether Mahama’s remarks were a symbolic encouragement or a strategic political signal, one thing is clear the conversation about women in leadership has been reignited, and the possibility of Ghana’s first female president no longer feels distant.