Addis ababa: President Mahama addressed the African Union (AU) Summit, underscoring the critical importance of gender equality in Africa's development. He emphasized that violence against women and girls is not only a moral outrage but also an economic burden, costing the continent billions annually in healthcare, lost productivity, and justice expenditures. This issue, he noted, devastates families and communities across Africa.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama advocated for the ratification of a convention that would clearly declare violence against women unacceptable in society. He stressed that these instruments are more than just gender frameworks; they are integral to Africa's human rights and development architecture. While frameworks are vital, political will is even more crucial, he added.
President Mahama, serving as the AU champion for gender development issues and financial institutions, is committed to placing gender equality at the heart of governance, economic management, and social policy. He highlighted Ghana's achievements, including the election of its first female Vice President and the unprecedented representation of women in government and the judiciary. He expressed confidence that a woman would soon occupy the highest office of President in Ghana.
He urged for gender parity in school enrollment and improvement in the completion rate for girls. In Ghana's 2026 budget, GHS401 million has been allocated to capitalize the Women's Development Bank, aimed at expanding affordable credit, financial literacy, and enterprise support for women, particularly those in informal and vulnerable employment sectors.
President Mahama noted the strengthening of institutions that protect women and girls, including specialized domestic violence units, courts, survival support services, and social protection programs such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the School Feeding Programme, Free Sanitary Pad for schoolgirls, and free tertiary education for persons with disabilities.
Furthermore, the Ghanaian Parliament has enacted the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act, which sets binding targets for women's representation: 30 percent by 2026, 35 percent by 2028, and 50 percent by 2030.