Dissecting Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang

As we gear up for the 2024 general election, it is important to microscopically scrutinise every actions, promises and personalities that are strenuously craving our indulgence to give them our mandate to govern us, because, in my view, this is the most important election in the history of this country since 1992.

The two major political parties have elected their flagbearers who have subsequently selected their running-mates for this crucial election. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have elected former president John Dramani Mahama and Vice president Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia respectively.

Whiles the NDC’s flagbearer has selected Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as his running-mate, the NPP’s flagbearer has selected Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as his running-mate. In this article, I intend to dissect the attributes and traits of the NDC’s running mate. This is important for the citizenry, because it helps in making an informed decision.

The decision by former president John Dramani Mahama to declare Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate for the impending 2024 general election did not come as a surprise to many, according to some political experts, it is one of the best decisions ever made by any political leader in this country, they believe it is in the interest of mother Ghana.

During the 2020 general elections, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was the party’s running mate to H.E. John Dramani Mahama, where she performed tremendously as a first timer, it is therefore a laudable idea for the former president to retain her going into the 2024 general elections.

The recent outdooring of Prof. Opoku-Agyemang after her earlier selection by H.E. John Dramani Mahama and the party deserves commendations by all women groups and women activists in this country because it is a positive sign to the Ghanaian political scene to promote gender balance and equality.

I have spoken to some political experts and academics who have stated that the NDC flagbearer has done himself a great service by sticking with Prof. Opoku-Agyemang due to her qualities and track record, and that retaining her had sent fears down the spines of the ruling NPP, because they are well aware of her immense qualities and attributes that have the propensity to make victory for the NDC all but guaranteed if well communicated. It is believed this caused the delay in the NPP’s announcement of their running mate.

The objective reality is that, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang embodies qualities of substance and integrity, making her an exceptional and outstanding choice, her appointment will significantly and positively contribute to the NDC’s quest for victory in the upcoming elections. Former president Mahama could not have chosen a more suitable running-mate, he was dead spot on.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang is a woman of substance, a woman of integrity and a woman of character who brings on-board a wealth of experience and pragmatic qualities that will inure to the benefit of the country in our quest for national development, Ghanaians cannot afford to miss this glorious opportunity.

During her tenure as the Vice-Chancellor of a state university in Ghana when she took over as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, she exhibited great leadership traits, her human relationship with staff and colleagues was exceptional and impactful, and she is humble, honest and tolerant. These are the virtues of great leaders.

When serving as the Minister of education, one of her focus areas was empowering girl-child education and empowering women with advocacies and policies that uplifts women. During her tenure as Minister for Education, she focused on implementing policies that covered inclusiveness in education in Ghana which birthed the Inclusive Education Policy 2015.

If the NDC is voted, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang will use her office as vice president to influence sustainable development and practical youth-centred policies. Her desire to help the NDC establish women’s bank is a revolutionary idea that will empower women to help accelerate the growth of the Ghanaian society.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang has a calm demeanour, very respectful and unprovocative, during the 2020 general elections her campaign messages were devoid of attacks, innuendoes and corrosive words against her opponents. She exhibited maturity and uplifted the running mate slot to a new and higher standard. Her intensive campaign in the coastal communities and her home region, the Central Region will yield positive results and the NDC will win most of the constituencies in the region.

The combination of an intelligent and an inclusive personality such as Prof. Opoku-Agyemang with an experienced, visionary, humble and a patriotic personality such as former president Mahama is the perfect antidote to the problems faced by this country as this moment in time.