Vice President Honoured as YOKAMA 2026 At Ngmayem Festival

The Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has been honoured with the title YOKAMA 2026 by the chiefs and people of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area in recognition of her achievements and contributions to society.

The honour was conferred on her at a traditional gathering at Odumase Krobo in the Eastern Region as part of activities marking this year’s Ngmayem Festival.

YOKAMA, meaning “Ideal Woman”, is a traditional title instituted 23 years ago by the Manya Krobo Traditional Council to recognise hardworking and accomplished women, celebrate their achievements and inspire younger generations, particularly adolescent girls, to pursue their ambitions.

Addressing the gathering, Professor Opoku-Agyemang called for stronger collaboration between government and traditional authorities to advance women’s empowerment, protect vulnerable groups and promote equal opportunities.

She disclosed that the Social Protection Act, 2025, the Social Protection Regulations and the Affirmative Action Regulations, 2026, had recently been launched to strengthen protection for vulnerable Ghanaians and translate the government’s commitment to gender equity into practical action.

She noted that effective implementation of the policies required the active involvement of traditional leaders, particularly queen mothers, whose influence and experience could help ensure that women had a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their communities.

The Vice President also highlighted the financial challenges confronting many women traders and farmers, particularly those who lacked the collateral required to access credit from formal financial institutions.

She expressed optimism that the proposed Women’s Development Bank would prioritise women with limited access to finance and provide them with opportunities to establish and expand their businesses and livelihoods.

On girls’ education, Professor Opoku-Agyemang described the free sanitary pad programme as a practical intervention to remove barriers that could affect girls’ participation in school.

She, however, stressed that government interventions alone could not secure the future of young people, urging them to remain committed to education, skills development and continuous learning.

She encouraged the youth to look beyond the opportunities immediately available to them, remain curious about the wider world and recognise that their present circumstances should not limit their ambitions.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang expressed gratitude to the chiefs and people of Manya Krobo for the recognition and pledged to uphold the YOKAMA title with respect for the tradition and values it represents.

The Konor of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Sakite II, used the occasion to appeal for the provision of a school bus for Krobo Girls Senior High School to support the institution’s transportation needs.

The recognition forms part of the Ngmayem Festival, which brings together traditional leaders, residents and other stakeholders to celebrate the heritage and development of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area.

Faustina Naa Ayele Johnson, ISD