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Ghanaians will head to the polls in December to elect their next leader, who will oversee the country’s affairs starting in 2025, as stipulated by the constitution.
As a democratic nation, Ghana holds elections every four years, with each president allowed a maximum of two terms, totalling eight years in office. The next election is set for December 7, 2024. Political parties and their candidates are currently crisscrossing the country, seeking voter support to succeed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, whose term ends on January 7, 2025.
Winning the presidency brings significant prestige, benefits, and prominent positions, including those granted to close allies such as a running mate and spouses. By Ghanaian law, a running mate automatically becomes vice president if their candidate wins, while their spouse becomes the First or Second Lady.
The 2024 election is expected to be a contentious battle between the two major parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Four prominent women from these parties are campaigning vigorously for their candidates in hopes of securing notable positions:
Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the NDC running mate to John Mahama, has been actively campaigning for a change in leadership. She has travelled to Kumasi, Accra, and the Central Region, urging Ghanaians to vote out the NPP administration. In a social media post on August 6, 2024, she emphasized the importance of voting for Mahama and other NDC candidates to build a better Ghana. “Every vote matters and will be safeguarded. We need to end this era of corruption, arrogance, and greed,” she stated.
Samira Bawumia
Samira Bawumia, the wife of the NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, is confident her husband will become Ghana’s first Muslim president. She has actively supported his campaign, accompanying him on numerous tours and addressing rallies, including one in Wenchi in the Bono Region. Samira believes that her husband’s presidency will mark a significant milestone for Ghana.
Lordina Mahama
Former First Lady Lordina Dramani Mahama is working to mobilize grassroots support for her husband, John Dramani Mahama. Recently, she met with market queens from Kumasi to discuss their economic challenges and infrastructure needs. Lordina, who has personal experience as a market woman, promised support and emphasized the vital role of market women in the economy. She assured that a future NDC administration would focus on their needs and build more markets across the country.
Alma Naa Jama Opoku Prempeh
Alma Naa Jama Opoku Prempeh, wife of the NPP’s vice-presidential candidate Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO), has launched her campaign in the Odododiodoo Constituency. She visited her maternal family home to seek their support, accompanied by notable figures such as the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Kwartei Titus Glover. The visit included traditional rites and enthusiastic endorsements from party supporters, with family head Nii Agyir Banor invoking ancestral blessings for her campaign.
As the election approaches, these four women are making significant efforts to secure prominent roles for themselves and their candidates in the upcoming administration.
