President John Dramani Mahama has touched down in Beijing for a significant three-day official visit centred on gender equality.
The President is slated to participate in the high-level Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, a critical summit co-hosted by the People’s Republic of China and UN Women, scheduled for October 13th to 14th, 2025.
The meeting marks the 30th anniversary of the seminal Fourth World Conference on Women, which was held in Beijing in September 1995 and produced the globally recognised Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA).
President Mahama’s participation carries additional weight, as he is attending the event in his capacity as the African Union Champion for Gender and Development Issues.
This role underscores the continent’s commitment to accelerating the implementation of the BPfA’s 12 critical areas of concern, which cover everything from women’s economic empowerment and political participation to health and the environment.
The summit, which will see Chinese President Xi Jinping deliver a keynote address at the opening ceremony, is a gathering of dozens of Heads of State and Government, parliamentary leaders, deputy prime ministers, and leaders of international organizations. It is positioned as a strategic opportunity to move the global gender agenda forward.
The main objective of the two-day high-level event is to reaffirm the commitments made during the Fourth World Conference on Women, 30 years ago aimed at promoting women empowerment.
The 1995 conference was a landmark event where 189 governments agreed on the BPfA, establishing the most comprehensive roadmap for gender equality worldwide.
As the international community reviews the progress over the last three decades, data from UN Women indicates that while significant strides have been made—such as 1,583 laws against gender-based violence passed globally since 1995—challenges persist.
For instance, approximately 10% of the world’s women and girls remain stranded in extreme poverty.
The Beijing summit serves as a crucial platform for Ghana, under President Mahama’s AU Champion mandate, to articulate the specific gender and development priorities of the African continent, particularly in relation to the Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
The Ghanaian delegation accompanying the President includes the First Lady, Lordina Mahama—a prominent advocate for women’s health and empowerment—and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), along with other senior government officials.
Ghana’s Ambassador to China, Kojo Bonsu, led embassy staff in welcoming the high-powered delegation upon their arrival.
Beyond the Global Leaders’ Meeting, the President is expected to hold bilateral engagements aimed at further strengthening the economic and diplomatic ties between Ghana and China, which remains one of Africa’s most significant development partners.
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