Many people chastised Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang when Hon. John Dramani Mahama chose her as the NDC's running mate for the 2024 presidential election.

Instead of Ghanaians praising this diligent lady on shattering the glass barrier that has prevented women from becoming the country's second citizens, all she got was insults. Hon. John Mahama was not spared, either.

Politicians such as Chairman Wontumi and Abronye DC (Kwame Baffoe) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) spearheaded the campaign to crucify these two heroic citizens. What is wrong with Wontumi, Abronye and their bunch of critics?

Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the remarkable running partner to Hon. John Mahama, boasts an impressive legacy as Minister of Education marked by innovative policy initiatives and significant achievements that have transformed the educational landscape.

Her visionary leadership led to the transformation of numerous polytechnics into thriving technical universities, while Colleges of Education were elevated to esteemed postsecondary institutions.

By eliminating the quota system at these colleges, she opened the doors for increased enrollment and greater teaching opportunities for countless young individuals. Notably, she ensured that teachers were promptly assigned without the previous barriers of the National Service and Licensure Examinations.

The affable Professor, who is a mother of three showed unshakable devotion to the delivery of Teaching and Learning Materials throughout her term as Education Minister.

It is on record that she assisted to acquire financing from the African Development Bank under the Development of Skills for Industry Project (DSIP) which was employed for the building of 13 contemporary and fully equipped Technical Institutes around the nation.

As if that wasn't enough, Professor Jane Naana upgraded facilities in all 38 Colleges of Education, oversaw the completion of the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, and secured funding and began work on the University of Environment and Sustainable Development in the Eastern Region.

Considering the professor's accomplishments, I continue to seek explanations for why some Ghanaians think she cannot effectively work with Hon. John Mahama to govern the country. The professor is an experienced academic and a mother who has taught many Ghanaians.

After all, Ghana was once led by people who called themselves economic “wizards and legal luminaries”, yet they drove the country’s economy into a ditch. Professor Jane Opoku's professional experience highlights her innovativeness and adaptability.

She will bring fresh ideas and inventive solutions to the table, ideas that are urgently needed in our governance. Her ability to adapt and think outside the box will drive advancement and development.

I think this tried and tested lady is capable of collaborating with Hon. John Dramani Mahama to move the nation forward because women leaders tend to possess greater empathy and compassion, focusing on social welfare, education, and healthcare.

During her tenure, the Professor was a catalyst for change, engaging over 40,000 newly hired teachers, a testament to her commitment validated by EMIS statistics. She adeptly supervised the allocation of around 500 buses and vehicles to educational institutions and district offices, vastly improving transportation for educators and students alike.

With a heartfelt focus on increasing retention and transition rates, she provided vital resources such as bicycles, school bags, mathematical sets, solar lights, calculators, and textbooks to roughly 155,781 students, positively impacting their educational journeys.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang demonstrated unwavering dedication to delivering Teaching and Learning Materials throughout her time as Education Minister. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang's contributions reflect a powerful commitment to education that inspires hope and progress for future generations.

Ghanaians must remember the contributions of women MPs in the country's fourth Republic, and those working in the background to ensure that the nation's government runs efficiently. The late Hawa Yakubu, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, Mrs. Betty Mauld Iddrisu, and Shirley Ayorkor Botchway. Marieta Brew Appia-Oppong, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, and “Baby” Zanetor Rawlings must convince Ghanaians that Ghanaian female politicians are capable of serving as the country's Chief Executive or a Deputy.

Female CEOs such as Ameena Guri-Fakin of Mauritius (2015-2018), Catherine Samba of the Central African Republic (2014-2016), Rose Francine Rogombe of Gabon (2009-2009), Ellen Johnson Sirleef of Liberia (2006-2018), Hon. Samia Saluhu Hassan of Tanzania (2021-present), and Prime Minister Slyvie Kininngi of Burundi (1993-1994) are not better than Professor Jane Opoku-Agyemang. When given the needed support, these female leaders cannot outperform our vice president Vice-President.