Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, has called on global and African leaders to renew their commitment to advancing gender equality, stressing that no country can truly progress while women remain excluded from development.
Speaking at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, China, on October 13, 2025, President Mahama described the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action as a “moral covenant” that must continue to inspire bold and transformative action in support of women and girls.
“The Beijing Declaration was never just a statement of intent; it was a moral covenant. It was a recognition that no nation can truly progress if half of its population is left behind,” he said, urging world leaders to act with greater resolve to remove persistent structural barriers to gender equality.
The Ghanaian leader reaffirmed his country’s unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment, noting that Ghana has made significant strides in mainstreaming gender in its national development policies.
He highlighted the election of Ghana’s first female Vice President and the appointment of women to top roles across government, the judiciary, security services, and national institutions as deliberate efforts to ensure inclusivity at all levels of decision-making.
“Women deserve a seat at the highest levels of decision-making,” Mahama said, expressing confidence that Ghana would soon witness its first female president.
READ: Ghana’s President Mahama urges African leaders to prioritise women’s welfare
The President outlined several policy and institutional reforms aimed at improving women’s welfare and opportunities, including:
Gender parity in school enrollment, ensuring girls go to school and stay in school. Strengthening of protection agencies, such as the Ministry of Gender, the Domestic Violence Secretariat, and the Specialised Domestic Violence Courts. Social protection initiatives, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme targeting female-headed households, and 50% microfinance allocation for women entrepreneurs. The establishment of a Women’s Development Bank to promote financial inclusion and empower female entrepreneurs.
He also referenced Ghana’s newly passed Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024, which mandates at least 30% female representation in public appointments by 2026, rising to 50% by 2030.
Mahama further cautioned that global instability and shifting multilateral systems threaten progress made toward gender equality and urged African leaders to prioritise the welfare and empowerment of women.
“The African woman is particularly vulnerable, and I wish to use this platform to call on my colleague African leaders to focus on the welfare and empowerment of our women,” he said.
President Mahama concluded with a call for concrete, transformative action rather than symbolic commitments, emphasising that empowering women is key to sustainable development.
“When women succeed, families thrive, communities become stronger, and nations progress,” he stated.
He urged governments and partners worldwide to make the next decade “one of bold progress and shared prosperity for women and girls.”
