Mahama’s Beijing statement and Ghana’s readiness for female President

When President John Dramani Mahama declared, “I’m confident that in the very near future, there will be a woman president of Ghana”, during the opening ceremony of the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, China, his words carried both symbolism and challenge.

His statement has invited reflection on how far Ghana has come and how far it still has to go in preparing for a woman to occupy the nation’s highest political office.

Why a Female President Matters

The prospect of a female president in Ghana is not just a symbolic milestone. Research across the world consistently shows that countries with higher levels of women’s representation in leadership enjoy better governance outcomes.

Nations led by women are more likely to prioritise education, health care, and social protection, while showing stronger anti-corruption performance and improved trust in public institutions.

Women in leadership often bring collaborative approaches, invest in human development, and promote inclusive decision-making.

These are qualities that strengthen democracy and foster stability.

Thus, Mahama’s optimism is grounded in evidence: empowering women in leadership is not merely a moral imperative but a strategic necessity for effective governance and sustainable growth.

Across Africa, examples abound. Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan have demonstrated that women can lead nations capably and compassionately, even through crises.

For Ghana, the emergence of a woman as president would reflect not only progress in gender but also the deepening of democratic inclusivity.

Beijing platform

Mahama’s statement drew significance from its link to the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most comprehensive global commitment to advancing women’s rights and leadership.

By connecting his vision to this framework, he reaffirmed Ghana’s alignment with international gender equality principles.

Yet, progress remains uneven. Women occupy only 41 of 276 parliamentary seats (about 15 per cent), well below the global average.

This limited representation highlights the persistent barriers to women’s full participation in Ghanaian political life.

Assessing Ghana’s readiness involves examining its institutional, cultural and political foundations.

Institutionally, Ghana has developed a framework that acknowledges gender equality.

The National Gender Policy and the recently passed Affirmative Action and Gender Equality Act aim to guarantee women fair representation in governance.

The establishment of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and gender desks within ministries are positive steps.

Yet, enforcement remains weak and often symbolic.

Without clear accountability mechanisms, these measures risk being reduced to rhetoric rather than reform.

Culturally, the challenge is deeper. From early childhood, Ghanaian boys and girls are socialised differently.

Boys are encouraged to lead, while girls are expected to nurture.

These roles shape adult aspirations and often limit women’s pursuit of political ambition.

True preparation for a woman president must, therefore, begin at home and in schools, through shared domestic responsibilities, gender-sensitive education, and visible mentorship for young women.

Perceptions

Societal perceptions of leadership as a male domain also persist. Women who seek high office often face harsher scrutiny, limited access to campaign financing, and gendered criticism that male politicians rarely encounter.

Changing these attitudes requires deliberate national conversation and the engagement of men as allies in promoting gender equity.

At the party level, the readiness for a female presidential candidate remains uncertain. Political parties serve as the main gatekeepers of executive power, and internal biases often determine who rises to the top.

Mahama’s confidence could be interpreted as faith in the growing visibility of women such as his Vice-President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, or younger figures like Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.

However, without institutionalised party reforms, such as gender quotas in leadership positions, equitable funding for female aspirants, and protection from internal marginalisation, the journey to a female presidency will remain steep.

Mahama’s statement may also reflect changing realities.

The visibility of competent women in academia, civil service, and civil society has expanded. Ghanaian women increasingly occupy leadership roles in local government, business and diplomacy.

The social base for a female presidency is, therefore, widening, even if political structures lag behind.

The road ahead

For Ghana, achieving a female presidency will require more than optimism; it demands sustained, coordinated effort across multiple fronts.

The implementation and enforcement of the Affirmative Action Act, investment in women’s political training, and the creation of financial mechanisms to support female candidates are essential.

Educational reforms that challenge gender stereotypes and promote equal opportunity must be pursued alongside broader civic education campaigns.

Importantly, Ghana can draw from its own history.

Many traditional governance systems included Queenmothers and other women leaders who wielded moral and political authority. Reconnecting with these indigenous traditions offers a culturally resonant model for inclusive governance.

President Mahama’s confidence, expressed on the Beijing platform, should, therefore, be seen as both a forecast and a call to action.

It challenges Ghanaian society, from political elites to ordinary citizens, to dismantle the barriers that prevent women from leading.

When Ghana eventually elects a woman president, it will not simply mark gender progress.

It will signify that the nation has matured into a democracy that values merit, fairness and inclusive participation, principles that lie at the heart of both the Beijing Declaration and Ghana’s own democratic journey.

The writer is a Political Scientist.