Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku‑Agyemang addressed the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences Women’s Awards in Accra, demanding that Ghana continue to dismantle the barriers that restrict women’s participation in the nation’s development.
She reminded attendees that women have long contributed to nation‑building but still face obstacles in education, finance, professional advancement and leadership. Opoku‑Agyemang said that institutions and public policies must help create equal opportunities for women to fully contribute to national development.
She also urged the Academy to recognise women from rural and grassroots communities for their contributions to Ghana, adding that “women have gone on to occupy the highest offices of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences but the number of women in this membership still warrants careful thought.” She explained that election to an academy such as this comes after years of scholarship and professional achievement, and its composition reflects who is excelling today. “But it also shows us who was blessed with access years ago. From such opportunities, distinguished careers could be built and publicly recognised. This means that years from now, a girl denied an education today may be missing from the pool our institutions will draw from. Hence, access must be matched by equality, fairness and equity,” she said.
