{
  "id": 16743252,
  "title": "Vice President calls for stronger role for queen mothers in advancing women’s rights",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/vice-president-calls-for-stronger-role-for-queen-mothers-in-advancing",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-27T12:09:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/vice-president-calls-for-stronger-role-for-queen-mothers-in-advancing-womens-rights/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for queen mothers to utilize their influence to enhance women's involvement in local governance decisions. She emphasized that traditional leaders are crucial in advancing gender equality and providing opportunities for women to contribute to community development. During the Yokama Ligbi celebration, part of the 133rd Ngmayem Festival in the Manya Krobo Traditional Area in Ghana's Eastern Region, Opoku-Agyemang stressed the importance of moving beyond mere policy commitments and ensuring that measures aimed at empowering women result in real improvements in their lives. She cited the recently launched Social Protection Act 2025, Social Protection Regulations, and Affirmative Action Regulations 2026 as examples of initiatives to bolster support for vulnerable groups and promote equal opportunities. The Vice President urged queen mothers to prevent women from being excluded from decisions impacting their families and communities. Additionally, she highlighted the upcoming Women Development Bank, which is expected to facilitate access to finance for women who typically face challenges securing loans from conventional financial institutions. Many women traders and farmers struggle to obtain credit due to the absence of collateral or financial records required by lenders. By improving access to finance, Opoku-Agyemang believes women will be better equipped to expand their businesses and contribute more effectively to Ghana's economic development. Regarding education, she noted that the Free Senior High School program is helping to eliminate obstacles that prevent girls from accessing secondary education but stressed the need for families, schools, traditional authorities, and communities to collaborate in guiding young people and preparing them for the future. She also encouraged young people to remain curious, question existing assumptions, and be open to learning and revising their perspectives. The Vice President was honored during the celebration and expressed gratitude to the chiefs, queen mothers, elders, and people of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area for recognizing her. Yokama Ligbi, or Ideal Woman Day, is an annual feature of the Ngmayem Festival celebrating Krobo women who have excelled professionally, demonstrated strong character, and made significant contributions to culture and community development. This tradition, initiated in 2003 by the Paramount Chief of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Sakite II, five years after his enthronement as Konor, involves traditional attire and Klama dance performances, showcasing the cultural heritage of the Krobo people.",
  "summary": "Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has urged queen mothers to use their influence to strengthen women’s participation in community decision-making. She said traditional leaders play an important role in advancing gender equality and creating opportunities for women to contribute to community development. The Vice President made the call at the Yokama Ligbi (Ideal Woman Day)…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}