Former Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, has encouraged young women to pursue careers in politics, emphasizing that their backgrounds should not hold them back.
Speaking at the ‘Elevate Her Young Women’s Conference’ held on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), she stressed that politics in Ghana is inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of their lineage.
“A lot of girls have the impression that they are children from some class of families who end up doing what they’re doing.
“Politics in Ghana is not there for a particular class so if you’re sitting there saying maybe I would have been a good MP but my mom is not known, my dad is not known, nobody knows my family, I don’t think I belong to that class, no! You do belong,” Fatimatu said.
According to data from the World Economic Forum, she highlighted that achieving full participation of women in the workforce, particularly in leadership positions such as management and boardrooms, could boost global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 12 trillion.
Fatimatu Abubakar drew a parallel with the United States of America (USA), where women were denied the right to vote just a century ago, but now they actively participate in politics and decision-making, underscoring the progress that can be made over time.
She urged young women not to limit themselves, saying that if she could achieve her position, they too could aspire to high office, including the Presidency, and should stay focused on their goals.
“If I ended up here, trust me, you may be on your way becoming the next President of Ghana so don’t be distracted and don’t think that you don’t belong there,” she reiterated.
