Editorial by Ghanaian Times: Let’s try male-female presidency

As we have said in recent times, Ghana will make an unprecedented electoral history this year.

If the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is able to “Break the 8," that victory would be breaking the jinx about the two-term, eight-year rule enjoyed by the two dominant parties that have altered in ruling the country for almost 32 years in the country’s fourth republic—the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the NPP.

Today, there is a group called the Alliance for Revolutionary Change (ARC), which has expressed the intention of fielding an independent presidential candidate, and if this candidate wins the presidency, that will be another interesting story.

However, for now, once we are yet to know the sex of the person the presidential candidate of the NPP, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will choose, we think the most serenading story will be having a female Vice President.

We, therefore, applaud former President John Dramani Mahama for sticking with Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate in the 2024 general election.

On Wednesday, the NDC officially unveiled Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, whom Mr. Mahama describes as a woman of unparalleled integrity whose credentials are unmatched and whose passion for Ghana’s development is unwavering.

We stand to be corrected, but as a seasoned academic professor who has now chosen to be a politician, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, so far, has not been involved in any scandal that taints her integrity.

Thus, we are inclined to accept all the good things said about her at her unveiling because they were coming from people who can attest to those virtues of hers.

One significant message we have gleaned from some products of the University of Cape Coast is that she respects everyone and did all she could to encourage her students to understand her lessons and also do personal studies so they could eventually come out as truly educated people.

Her political opponents may attempt to vilify her, but those who know her, we can guess, would dismiss whatever the opponents say as thrash and a figment of their own imagination, such as what one political minion and mischief-maker recently sought to do.

Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang is not being touted as a superwoman; we will equally promote her if Bawumia’s running mate happens to be a woman.

All we are saying is that we can try a woman as Vice President of the country and see if she will not be the driver's mate but can exert some influence to bring about certain changes in the lives of the people.

The NDC lost the chance to provide that opportunity in 2020 with the same Prof. Opoku-Agyemang.

This was after other noble women had lost it.

Think, for example, about Bri­gitte Dzogbenuku with Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom in 2016 on the ticket of the Progressive People’s Party; Mrs. Eva Naa Merley Lok­ko with Nduom in 2012; Cherita Nana Akosua Frimpomaa-Sar­pong with Dr. Abu Sakara Foster (CPP, 2012); Adeline Dedo Nar­tey with Dr. Edward Nasigrie Ma­hama (People’s National Convention, 1996); and Professor Naa Afarley Sackeyfio with Kwabena Darko (National Independence Party, 1992).

We think it is about time the people of this country gave women the opportunity to serve even at the country’s presidency, and it is time to start with the office of the Vice President because of their moderating traits.

The male-male card or combination has, so far, not done the country any better.