Mahama calls for renewed global action to advance women’s empowerment

President John Dramani Mahama has urged world leaders to renew their commitment to gender equality, stressing that empowering women is essential for sustainable global progress.

Speaking at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, China, on Monday, President Mahama said the world must “act with even greater resolve and innovation” to close persistent gender gaps.

“The Beijing Declaration was never just a statement of intent; it was a moral covenant,” he said. “No nation can truly progress if half of its population is left behind.”

The Ghanaian leader reaffirmed his government’s dedication to women’s empowerment, highlighting significant policy reforms and programmes that have advanced gender equality.

“Under my leadership and in my capacity as the African Union Champion for Gender and Women’s Empowerment, Ghana has taken decisive steps to mainstream gender across its national development policies,” he stated.

He cited the election of Ghana’s first female Vice President and increased female appointments in government, the judiciary, and security services as part of a deliberate effort to give women a seat at the highest levels of decision-making.

“I am confident that in the very near future, a woman will be president of the Republic of Ghana,” Mahama added.

The president outlined a series of interventions that have improved the welfare of women and girls, including gender parity in school enrolment, the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) initiative, the Ghana School Feeding Programme, and a nationwide sanitary pad distribution programme.

He also referenced the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121), which mandates a minimum of 30% female representation in public appointments by 2026, rising to 50% by 2030.

“To further empower women economically, Ghana is establishing a Women’s Development Bank to promote financial inclusion and provide support to women entrepreneurs,” he disclosed.

President Mahama warned that global instability threatens to erode gains made under the Sustainable Development Goals, urging nations to safeguard progress.

“Gender equality is more than a matter of justice; it is a catalyst for sustainable development,” he said. “When women succeed, families thrive, communities become stronger, and nations progress.”

He also called for “transformative action” beyond rhetoric to make the next decade one of “bold progress and shared prosperity for women and girls worldwide.”