Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, in a speech at the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing on Monday, said that the world urgently needs to move beyond rhetoric on gender equality and implement tangible actions for empowering women.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the leaders' meeting, Mahama reflected on the enduring significance of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted at the 1995 UN Fourth World Conference on Women.
"The Beijing declaration was never just a statement of intent, it was a moral covenant. It was a recognition that no nation can truly progress if half of its population is left behind. And yet, as we review its implementation, persistent gaps and structural barriers continue to slow our collective march towards equality. We must therefore act with even greater resolve and innovation," he said. Mahama also expressed concern over the impact the current global political and economic climate would have on women's development, highlighting the specific challenges facing African women.
"The global multilateral order and our rules-based trading systems are being jettisoned and are giving way to more unilateral actions by some global players. In this unpredictable environment, we need to focus on safeguarding the gains made by our women and other vulnerable groups since the Beijing Conference 30 years ago. 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 African women," he said.
Drawing on Ghana's national experience, Mahama issued a compelling call to action.
"When women thrive, families prosper, communities are stronger and nations progress. Our experience in Ghana confirms that investing in women yields measurable dividends in terms of productivity, innovation and social cohesion. And so, as we look to Beijing plus 30, I call on all governments and partners to move beyond platitudes and commit towards transformative action. Let us ensure that this milestone becomes a turning point, one that accelerates the realization of gender equality and women's empowerment all over the world," he said.
Ghanaian president calls for transformative action at Global Women's Summit
