The Vice President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has called on women leaders to ground their growing visibility in public life on credibility, ethical conduct, and competence.
Speaking to an audience of distinguished female leaders in government and media in Accra, she underscored that leadership is not a status symbol but a profound responsibility to serve and inspire trust.
“Visibility alone cannot sustain leadership. Credibility must be the hallmark of our presence, and we must hold ourselves accountable to the highest ethical standards. Leadership is not about occupying a position but about protecting truth, deepening substance, and cultivating trust in democratic institutions. This is how we build a legacy worth emulating,” the Vice President noted.
Held under the theme “Leadership, Visibility, & Public Trust,” the forum was organized by the Government Communications Office under the patronage of John Dramani Mahama. It brought together female Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, CEOs, senior public officers, media professionals, and other key stakeholders.
The event provided a strategic platform to discuss leadership visibility, narrative ownership, and the critical role of women in shaping national discourse. The Vice President’s address served as a clarion call for women leaders to redefine their roles as transformative agents of change in their respective fields.
The forum was moderated by Shamima Muslim, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, and opened with a welcome address by Nana Oye Bampoe-Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Administration. She described the event as a “pioneering effort to align the work of women in public office with the power of media to shape narratives.”
Special remarks were delivered by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State for Government Communications, and Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff. They highlighted the importance of strengthening public trust in leadership amid increased scrutiny and evolving national expectations.
Prominent speakers, including Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, and Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, echoed the Vice President’s sentiments, calling for more impactful and measurable leadership outcomes.
Leader of the Women’s Caucus in Parliament, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe, affirmed the caucus’s commitment to bipartisan collaboration on women’s issues as a cornerstone for national progress.
A unique breakout session with female leaders in the security services, including DCFO Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong of the Ghana National Fire Service and Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie (Esq) of the Ghana Prisons Service, spotlighted institutional reforms and the evolving role of women in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
The forum’s main panel discussion featured Grace Ayensu, Oheneyere Gifty Anti, Nana Yaa Jantuah, and Margaret Ansei, CEO of the Ghana Enterprises Agency.
Together, they explored the challenges of public scrutiny for women in leadership, strategies for building public trust, and the importance of stronger collaboration between government and the media.
