President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana delivered an address at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women on Monday, October 13, 2025, using the platform to reaffirm the global community’s shared commitments to empowering women and girls, which were originally established 30 years ago at the Beijing Conference. In his capacity as the African Union Champion for Gender and Development Issues, President Mahama used his speech to advocate for intensified action, urging his fellow global leaders to prioritize women’s empowerment as a crucial step towards achieving sustainable development and to commit fully to transformative actions.
The President highlighted Ghana’s commitment to mainstreaming gender, providing concrete examples of the nation’s progress. He pointed to the election of Ghana’s first female Vice President and the strategic appointment of women to high-level government positions, expressing strong belief that sustained support will enable women to eventually break the glass ceiling and lead the country. Additionally, Mahama confirmed that Ghana has successfully achieved gender parity in school enrollment. To ensure the continuity and sustainability of these gains, he assured the audience of the government’s pledge to strengthen key agencies and dedicate necessary budget allocations to social intervention programs, such as the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP), which specifically aids female-headed households.
Building on these domestic initiatives, President Mahama also announced plans for the establishment of a women’s development bank. This effort is directly aligned with the African Union’s declaration of 2020-2030 as the Decade of African Women’s Financial and Economic Inclusion. In his final remarks, the President offered a balanced perspective, urging focus on the significant gains already made in empowering women while simultaneously emphasizing the critical need to put robust structures in place to effectively address all remaining gaps.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
