Women of power: What poll results in Namibia, Ghana mean for Africa’s political inclusion
Ghana's Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and Namibia's President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
What you need to know:
- In Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the governing South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo) was voted in as the first female president.
- In Ghana, Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was sworn into office as the country’s first woman vice president, breaking the ceiling for gender equality.
Two women in Africa made history late last year after they ascended to the top echelons of power in their countries in what political pundits refer to as changing political fortunes for women.
Last month, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the governing South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo) was voted in as Namibia's first female president. The electoral commission said she had won more than 57 per cent of the vote, with her closest rival, Panduleni Itula, garnering 26 per cent. “The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said after being declared president-elect.
Nandi-Ndaitwah had been promoted to vice president in February last year after President Hage Geingob died while in office. She joined politics in the 1970s by taking part in the country’s underground independence movement. She returned from the UK to join parliament in 1990 and went on to serve as minister for several portfolios, including foreign affairs, tourism, child welfare, and information, over the years.
Nandi-Ndaitwah became known as an advocate for women's rights. In one of her key achievements, she pushed for the Combating of Domestic Violence Act in parliament in 2002. According to Namibian media, Nandi-Ndaitwah criticised her male colleagues for trying to ridicule the draft law, sternly reminding them that the Swapo constitution condemned sexism. She continued to rise despite Namibia's traditional and male-dominated political culture. She succeeded Nangolo Mbumba, who stepped up after the death of then-President Geingob.
In Ghana, Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was sworn into office as the country’s first woman vice president, breaking the ceiling for gender equality. Prof Opoku-Agyemang holds a PhD in English Literature and has had a distinguished academic career, serving as the first female vice chancellor of the University of Cape Coast. Her tenure as vice chancellor was marked by significant achievements, including infrastructural expansion, promotion of research, and academic excellence.
Beyond academia, she served as Ghana’s Minister for Education from 2013 to 2017, during which she led key reforms in the education sector. Her leadership in implementing policies aimed at improving access to quality education, especially for underprivileged communities, won her national and international recognition.
“My election has many implications... It means all of us are on board. The victory is for all of us, especially for our daughters, for our youth, for our women... I know this is a big responsibility... My job was to open the door, and it doesn’t end there. Actually, that is where the work begins," she said in her acceptance speech.
Prof Opoku-Agyemang’s election came hot on the heels of the passage of an Affirmative Action Act, 2024, a groundbreaking legislative framework designed to promote gender equity and increase women’s representation in decision-making spaces in Ghana. The Affirmative Action Act, which had been on the legislative agenda for over a decade, seeks to address gender disparities in leadership, mandating a minimum of 30 per cent representation of women in public sector decision-making roles.
Many gender activists view the two women’s rise to top leadership positions as a turning point for their gender conservative countries. For decades, the top leadership and governance positions in African countries have been dominated by men.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, who attended Prof Opoku-Agyemang’s swearing-in in Accra, said the people of Ghana need to be commended as they embark on this new chapter. “This historic moment is a true reflection of progress in African leadership and the empowerment of women across our continent.”
Her Homa Bay counterpart Gladys Wanga, who also accompanied President William Ruto to the inauguration, commended Ghana. “Wishing this dynamic duo well as they move Ghana to the next level.”
The two women join Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who served as the 24th president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. Sirleaf was the first elected female head of state in Africa. Sahle-Work Zewde, an Ethiopian diplomat, also served as president of Ethiopia from 2018 to 2024. She was the first Ethiopian woman to hold the office and was elected as president unanimously by members of the Federal Parliamentary Assembly on October 25, 2018.
Suluhu Hasan has been serving as president of Tanzania since March 2021. She is the first Tanzanian woman to serve in the position. She previously served as vice president from 2015 to 2021, from which she ascended to the presidency following the death of John Magufuli.
UN Women has termed the election of the two African leaders a significant milestone in the struggle for gender equality in the highest positions of power.
“We celebrate Netumbo’s win as a result of the social, institutional, and cultural changes the region has experienced pertaining to gender parity and women’s participation in public positions. She adds to the number of women who have led countries in Africa, reminding us that women’s equal participation and leadership in political and public life are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” UN Women’s statement reads.
Equality Now, a renowned rights organisation, has also congratulated the two leaders, describing their victories as good news for Africa. It said in a statement that their elections represent a monumental step forward. “These groundbreaking victories mark a pivotal moment not only for Namibia and Ghana but for the entire African continent, as they reaffirm the power and potential of women’s leadership in the highest levels of public office. Their leadership has the power to inspire millions, advance the fight for gender equality, and prioritise women’s rights on national and regional agendas.” It said in a statement.
The rights organisation adds that as history has shown, when women are in positions of power, issues such as education for girls, ending gender-based violence, and economic empowerment receive the critical attention they deserve. “We celebrate this transformative moment as a signal of progress and a catalyst for change. Equality Now stands in solidarity with women across Africa and the world as we work towards a future where equal representation and opportunity are not exceptions but the norm,” equality Now said.
