Ghana’s President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, has urged African leaders to give greater attention to the welfare and empowerment of women, describing gender equality as key to the continent’s sustainable development.
Speaking at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, China, on Monday, 13 October 2025, President Mahama said the African woman remains particularly vulnerable and must be placed at the centre of policy and development efforts.
“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 stated.
He emphasised that gender equality goes beyond fairness, calling it “a catalyst for sustainable development.” “When women succeed, families thrive, communities become stronger, and nations progress,” he added.
READ: Beijing Declaration: No nation can progress if half its population is left behind – Mahama
Highlighting Ghana’s progress in promoting gender inclusion, President Mahama said his government has achieved historic milestones, including the election of the country’s first female Vice President and the appointment of women to key leadership positions in government, the judiciary, and the security services.
He also noted the passage of Ghana’s Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024, which mandates at least 30% female representation in public appointments by 2026, increasing to 50% by 2030. Ghana is also set to establish a Women’s Development Bank to provide low-interest loans, financial literacy, and business development support for women entrepreneurs.
President Mahama, who serves as the African Union Champion for Gender and Women’s Empowerment, called for renewed urgency in advancing equality, warning that global instability threatens to reverse progress made since the Beijing Declaration thirty years ago.
“As we look to Beijing +30, I call on all governments and partners to move beyond platitudes and commit towards transformative action,” he said. “Together, we can make the next decade one of bold progress and shared prosperity for women and girls worldwide.”
