President John Dramani Mahama has called on African leaders to move gender equality from declarations to concrete budgetary commitments, describing it as central to the continent’s transformation.

Speaking at the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Mahama said, “Gender equality is not peripheral to Africa’s development. It is fundamental to our economic transformation, our social resilience, and sustainable growth.”

He warned that despite decades of commitments, Africa’s gender agenda remains underfunded, with gender-responsive programmes often “the first casualties of fiscal constraints.”

“Every woman entrepreneur creates jobs. Every girl educated multiplies prosperity. Africa cannot afford to leave more than half of its population behind,” he stressed.

The president urged member states to ratify and implement the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls before the end of 2026, describing violence against women as “not only a moral outrage, but an economic catastrophe.”

Highlighting Ghana’s progress, he pointed to the election of the country’s first female Vice President, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and growing female representation in governance.

He expressed confidence that “sooner rather than later, a woman will occupy the highest office of president in Ghana.”

President Mahama concluded by urging African governments to adopt gender-responsive budgeting and place gender equality at the centre of economic planning, accountability, and leadership across the continent.