President John Dramani Mahama has expressed confidence that Ghana will soon elect a female president.
He cited the historic milestones such as the election of the country’s first female vice president and increased representation of women across government and the judiciary.
Speaking at a high-level breakfast meeting on financing and reaffirming Africa’s gender commitments on the sidelines of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 13 February 2026, John Dramani Mahama emphasized that violence against women and girls is not only a moral outrage but also an economic catastrophe, costing Africa billions of dollars each year in health care, lost productivity, and justice expenditures, while devastating families and communities.
He said ratifying international conventions against gender-based violence would send a clear message that such acts have no place in society.
“These instruments are not merely gender frameworks. They are the cornerstone of Africa’s human rights and development architecture. Frameworks matter, but political will matters more,” Mahama said.
As the African Union champion for gender development issues and financial inclusion, Mr. Mahama emphasized his commitment to placing gender equality at the center of governance, economic management, and social policy.
He noted Ghana’s recent achievements, including the election of its first female vice president and unprecedented representation of women across government institutions and the judiciary.
“I am confident that sooner rather than later, a woman will occupy the highest office of president in Ghana,” he said.
President Mahama also called for stronger efforts to ensure gender parity in school enrolment and to improve completion rates for girls, underscoring the importance of investing in education as a foundation for sustainable development.
President Mahama further emphasized that the 2026 budget includes GHC 401 million 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.
He also noted that Ghana has strengthened institutions that protect women and girls, including specialized domestic violence units, dedicated courts, survival support services, and social protection programmes such as LEAP, the school feeding programme, free sanitary pads for schoolgirls, and free tertiary education for persons with disabilities.
Additionally, Parliament has enacted the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act, setting binding targets for women’s representation, 30% by 2026, 35% by 2028, and 50% by 2030, backed by dedicated budgetary allocations for gender programmes.
