President John Dramani Mahama has called on world leaders to translate their long-standing commitments to women’s empowerment into concrete action, urging bold steps to close gender gaps that continue to hinder social and economic progress.

Speaking at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing on Monday, October 13, President Mahama said it was time for governments and development partners to move beyond “rhetoric” and implement practical measures that improve the lives of women and girls, particularly in Africa.

“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.

Gender equality as a strategic investment

The president noted that gender equality is not only a matter of justice but also a strategic investment in national and global development.

“When women succeed, families thrive, communities become stronger, and nations progress,” he added.

He therefore called for renewed international collaboration to make the coming decade one of “bold progress and shared prosperity” for women and girls worldwide.

Ghana’s commitment to women’s empowerment

He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to gender equality, pledging that his government would continue to take deliberate steps to ensure women have equal opportunities across all sectors of national life.

“This meeting presents an invaluable opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to advancing the rights of women and girls worldwide and to assess the progress made under the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,” he said.

Reflecting on the 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration, President Mahama described it as “a moral covenant,” stressing that no nation can achieve true development while leaving half of its population behind.

Breaking barriers and advancing leadership

He acknowledged that structural barriers continue to limit women’s advancement and called for “greater resolve and innovation” to achieve lasting equality.

As the African Union Champion for Gender and Women’s Empowerment, President Mahama outlined steps Ghana has taken to integrate gender equality into its national development agenda.

He cited notable milestones, including the election of Ghana’s first female Vice President and the appointment of women to senior positions in government, the judiciary, the security services, and other national institutions.

“These are not symbolic gestures; they are a deliberate affirmation that women deserve a seat at the highest levels of decision-making,” he said, expressing confidence that “in the very near future, our women will break the glass ceiling and that a woman will be president of the Republic of Ghana.”

He also praised Ghana’s progress in education, noting that the country has achieved gender parity in school enrolment, with more girls staying in school. He said these gains had been supported by strong institutional reforms and laws protecting the rights of women and girls.