New era of African female leadership

The year draws to a close with two momentous political achievements in Africa. On 7 December, Ghana rewrote history by electing its first-ever female vice president in Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, as running mate of former President John Dramani Mahama, now president-elect, under the National Democratic Congress, which won with 56.55% of the votes.A few days earlier, Namibia had elected its first-ever female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the ruling party Swapo, with more than 57% of votes cast. The two join Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan as Africa’s apex female national political leaders.Both events put Africa on a pedestal with regard to Sustainable Development Goal 5, which focuses on gender equality and women’s empowerment. Target 5.5 of the goal advocates women’s full and effective participation at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. African countries that either have or have had female presidents are Angola, Benin, Burundi, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.The ascension of Opoku-Agyemang does not dwarf the fact that only 22% of 36 substantive Cabinet ministers in Ghana are women. This disparity is also reflected in the fact that women constitute only 14.5% of Ghana’s parliament. Both are below the one-third threshold internationally regarded as pivotal in enhancing women’s influence. Namibia fares better with 44.2% of parliamentary seats being held by women and impressive policy and legal frameworks promoting gender equality.The question of numbers as an initial indicator of improved gender equality is tackled in the Critical Mass Theory, which talks of loneliness among peers being a problem faced by women as a distinct minority in institutions. Women in such a situation suffer from the impostor syndrome and lack of belonging due to their rarity and oddity. As their numerical presence increases, however, levels of confidence and assertiveness also surge, hence the quest for increased numbers. Gender equalityIn the political theory of numbers, the two women will bear the burden of symbolic consequences, or specialisation effect. This is the expectation that a woman in an influential position automatically represents other women, in what academics call the feminisation of roles.Thus they are expected to leverage their positions to enhance gender equality. In this context, they should be reasonably expected to champion legal, policy and institutional measures towards gender equality, even much more than their male counterparts, simply because of their identity. The problem with symbolic consequences is that it sets the women up for blame should the quests for gender equality fail. In addition, their individual failures are generalised as the shortcomings of all women.Opoku-Agyemang’s post-election speech indicated that she has internalised this expectation. “The victory is for all of us, but especially for our daughters... our women”, she is reported to have said. “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. I will hold the door open”.The two women will also be seen as role models for other women with political ambitions, as their success demonstrates that gender should not be a barrier to leadership. Notably, they give additional impetus to President Suluhu Hassan, who now has fellow women to confer with in presidential echelons.Another notable fact is that both women are in the older people’s category – Opoku-Agyemang at 73 and Nandi-Ndaitwah at 72. This is a shot in the arm against ageism and a statement that age should not be a deterrent to women’s, or any other person’s, leadership ambitions.Both women also have illustrious track records. Opoku-Agyemang was the first female vice-chancellor of University of Cape Coast (2008-2012). She served as Ghana’s mininster of eduation from 2013 to 2017, is a winner of several awards and is an avid advocate of women’s rights. The professor of literature held several administrative positions at the university. Nandi-Ndaitwah served as Namibia’s vice-president from February. She has been in senior public offices for over 25 years, as deputy prime minister, minister for international relations and cooperation and minister for environment and tourism. Her profile shows that Nandi-Ndaitwah joined politics at the tender age of 14 as an anti-racism advocate.Common in both profiles are key ingredients to political leadership for women, and even men for that matter. These are solid credentials, tenacity and track record in public life, correct timing, and the courage to dare. Hopefully, the trail blazed by these two women should not dissipate but inspire Africa to do even better by balancing the gender scales not only in politics but in other realms as well. *The writer is a lecturer in gender and development studies at South Eastern Kenya University (okumba.miruka@gmail.com)- NATION NEWSPAPER

New era of African female leadership

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Namibian Sun 2024-12-25

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New era of African female leadership

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Namibian Sun 2024-12-25

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