Beijing: Ghana remains steadfast in its pursuit of gender equality and the empowerment of women, President John Dramani Mahama has said. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing, China, President Mahama emphasized the decisive steps taken by the Government of Ghana to mainstream gender across its national development policies under his leadership and as the African Union Champion for Gender and Women's Empowerment.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama highlighted historic milestones achieved by Ghana, notably the election of the country's first female Vice President and the appointment of women to leadership roles across government, judiciary, security services, and key national institutions. These developments, he assured, are not merely symbolic but a deliberate affirmation of women's right to participate in high-level decision-making processes. He expressed confidence that a woman will soon ascend to the presidency in Ghana.
President Mahama detailed Ghana's achievements in gender parity in school enrollment, noting the increase in school attendance and retention rates for girls. He also mentioned robust institutional reforms and legal frameworks that protect the rights of women and girls, including strengthening agencies like the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, and establishing Specialised Domestic Violence Courts. Sustained budget allocations have enhanced their capacity to deliver justice and social support to survivors of gender-based violence.
The President discussed the expansion of social protection programs benefiting women and girls, such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) initiative, which targets female-headed households, and the Ghana School Feeding Programme, which improves nutrition and school retention. He also highlighted policies reserving 50 percent of microfinance and small loan funding for women entrepreneurs and the nationwide distribution of free sanitary pads for schoolgirls.
In addition, President Mahama mentioned initiatives like free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, especially women, and the No Academic Fee Policy for first-year tertiary students. He underscored the significance of the Beijing Meeting in reaffirming commitments to advancing women's rights globally and assessing progress under the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
President Mahama called for renewed urgency and purpose in addressing persistent gaps and barriers impeding progress towards equality. He stated that the Beijing Declaration was a moral covenant recognizing that no nation could truly progress if half of its population was left behind, urging for greater resolve and innovation in tackling these challenges.
Chinese President Xi Jinping also contributed to the discussion, presenting four proposals to accelerate women's all-round development. He emphasized the need for building wider consensus, opening broader pathways, and taking practical actions to address the complex challenges still facing women's development.
