President John Dramani Mahama has highlighted key achievements in advancing women’s empowerment in Ghana, including the nationwide distribution of free sanitary pads for schoolgirls.
Speaking at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in China on October 13, President Mahama urged African leaders to prioritize the welfare and empowerment of women.
He stressed that Ghana remains steadfast in its pursuit of gender equality.
“We’ve achieved gender parity in school enrollment. Girls are going to school and staying in school,” he said.
He added that Ghana’s commitment to gender equality is reflected in the country’s institutional reforms and legal frameworks designed to protect women’s rights.
President Mahama then shared some social intervention programs that his government has expanded to directly benefit women and girls.
He said that there is a nationwide distribution of free sanitary pads for schoolgirls across the country.
“This is to address their menstrual health and also prevent absenteeism from school,” he explained.
Among other initiatives, he cited the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty programme which targets female-headed households, as well as a policy reserving 50 percent of microfinance and small-scale loan funding for women entrepreneurs.
He also highlighted the Ghana School Feeding Programme which sources food locally and helps improve nutrition and school retention, particularly for girls.
Additionally, there has been an introduction of the Academic Fee Stress Policy which offers financial relief for first-year tertiary students, and the provision of free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, especially women.
Also touching on the upcoming Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund, President Mahama said, “The Ghana medical care trust fund which is soon to start will also ensure equitable access to treatment from non communicable diseases especially amongst vulnerable groups.”
President Mahama further said that Ghana has strengthened critical agencies, including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, the Domestic Violence Secretariat, and the Specialized Domestic Violence Courts.
“Sustained budgetary allocations have improved their capacity to deliver justice, protection, and social support to survivors of gender-based violence,” he added.
The Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women is taking place in Beijing, China, from October 13 to 14, 2025 and is co-hosted by China and UN Women.
President Mahama is attending the event in his capacity as the African Union Champion for Gender and Development Issues.ko
