Photos: Vice President joins GAAS Awards to celebrate outstanding women leaders

Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang attended the inaugural Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) Women’s Awards, a ceremony held to honor women who have made significant contributions to national development and leadership in various sectors of Ghana. The theme of the event was “Breaking Barriers, Building Nations: Celebrating Women in Outstanding Leadership in Ghana.”

The event brought together women recognized for their outstanding achievements in fields ranging from academia to business, healthcare, and community work.

In her address, the Vice President reflected on the long-standing contributions of women to Ghana’s development. She pointed out that women have played crucial roles in the country’s economic and social foundations for generations, even before discussions around gender equality were prominent in national conversations. “Ghana’s progress has always been built on collective effort,” she emphasized.

“Long before conversations about gender equality entered our national discourse, women farmed, fished, traded, healed, adjudicated, created, led communities, and contributed to the economic and social foundations on which our country was built.”

The Vice President's participation in the GAAS Women’s Awards held particular meaning to her, given her affiliation with the Academy for over two decades. She noted that despite women’s contributions to nation-building, historical disparities have often excluded them from opportunities they were fully capable of pursuing. “Unequal access meant that generations of women were excluded from opportunities they were fully capable of pursuing,” she stated, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts to promote gender equality.

While acknowledging the progress made in expanding opportunities for women, Opoku-Agyemang stressed that there is still significant work to be done. She commended the GAAS for its recognition of women making impactful contributions at the grassroots level, stressing that nation-building occurs in diverse sectors and communities. “Ghana is built in our universities and boardrooms, but equally in our farms, markets, and communities,” she highlighted, underscoring the multifaceted nature of the country’s development.