President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s unwavering commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women, urging global leaders to transform the vision of the Beijing Declaration into practical and lasting action.

Speaking at the Opening Session of the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, President Mahama called for renewed moral and political will to ensure that no nation’s progress comes at the expense of its women and girls.

“The Beijing Declaration was never just a statement of intent—it was a moral covenant,” President Mahama said. “Thirty years on, the promise of Beijing endures, but it demands renewed urgency and purpose.”

He emphasized that although progress has been made since the landmark 1995 Beijing Conference, deep-rooted structural barriers continue to hinder the full participation of women and girls in development. He therefore urged world leaders to act with greater determination, innovation, and unity to accelerate gender equality.

President Mahama highlighted Ghana’s bold achievements and reforms under his leadership and in his role as the African Union Champion for Gender and Women’s Empowerment.

He pointed to historic milestones, including the election of Ghana’s first female Vice President and the appointment of women to high-level leadership roles across government, the judiciary, security services, and key national institutions.

“These are not symbolic gestures,” he emphasized. “They are deliberate affirmations that women deserve a seat at the highest levels of decision-making. And I am confident that in the near future, Ghana will have its first woman President.”

President Mahama also underscored Ghana’s achievement of gender parity in school enrolment and outlined ongoing efforts to strengthen institutions that safeguard the rights and welfare of women and girls.

He cited reforms that have enhanced the work of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, and the creation of specialised domestic violence courts to improve access to justice for survivors.

President Mahama’s address in Beijing reinforced Ghana’s leadership in advancing gender equality and his call for global solidarity marked a renewed push for inclusive progress, ensuring that women everywhere have an equal opportunity to shape the future.