SPEECH: Mahama launches the Voice of Women- the NDC Women’s Manifesto

I am deeply honoured to be joining you this morning at this historic summit—one that amplifies the voice of the Ghanaian woman.

Today, we are here to launch a vision that places Ghana's women at the centre of national development and governance.

I want to begin by thanking the Women’s Wing of the NDC for launching this Call to Action—a bold step towards a future where women lead at the highest levels of politics, are economically empowered, and have access to the education and health care they need to thrive. Women play a critical role in our society, and the NDC’s “Resetting Ghana” Manifesto, launched on 24 August 2024, recognises this. 

We have made clear, in both policy and practice, that our Ghanaian women are not just beneficiaries of development—they are its architects. For us, the NDC, our mission is simple: Ghanaian women matter. Ghanaian women are partners in development. Our Party has put forward proposals to ensure that women sit at the table of national decision-making, side by side with men.

This is not an empty promise; I have already shown my commitment by nominating a female running mate – a symbol of our inclusive and gender-balanced government.

I am deeply honoured to have a woman of immense integrity as my running mate and, God willing, the next Vice President of Ghana. Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang will, God willing, be Ghana’s first female Vice President in January 2025.

The NDC strongly believes that a truly inclusive and gender-balanced government is long overdue in our democracy.

This commitment is not a fleeting sentiment. It is rooted deeply in my personal journey, as I recounted in my memoir, about the profound influence of three women: my aunt, my sister Rose, and my mother Abiba Nnaba on my life. These women raised me, taught me the values of perseverance and compassion, and shaped the man you see today. It is their strength that I pay homage to today.

Their strength in adversity, perseverance, and unshakeable focus deeply inspired me and shaped my early appreciation of and deep respect for women. But today, the stakes are much higher and bigger than my story.

Beyond personal anecdotes, we must confront the harsh realities women in Ghana face today.

Despite women’s significant contribution to our nation’s development, gender inequality remains pervasive, particularly in the informal sector, where 92% of workers are women, often without safety nets. This important sector contributes as much as 30-40% of Ghana’s GDP.

This situation has exacerbated poverty among women, as highlighted by the 2020 Census, which indicates that of Ghana’s 7.3 million poor people, the majority – 3.76 million – are women.

Nearly 54% of unemployed people in Ghana are women. Why should poverty have a female face in Ghana, with 1.44 million women classified as extremely poor and living on less than $1.90 a day? Why should poverty have any face at all?

These numbers should not just shock us but spur us to action. These statistics tell a painful story. Behind each number is a woman—perhaps a mother, a sister, or a daughter—who works tirelessly every day but still goes to bed hungry.

They are the backbone of our communities, yet they bear the heaviest burdens of inequality. This must change. Our Resetting Ghana Manifesto offers bold solutions to address these challenges.

First and foremost, job creation is at the heart of our agenda. The NDC will implement a 24-hour Economy, creating business opportunities to operate around the clock in three shifts. Instead of one person working one job as a single shift, we shall now have three people working three shifts for the same job.

Imagine the potential – thousands of new jobs created, productivity at an all-time high, and our nation reaping the benefits of a stronger economy. Ghanaians, especially young people and women, will no longer have to suffer for jobs like before.

But we must ask ourselves why we still see these inequalities after decades of promises. After six decades of independence, why does poverty wear a female face in Ghana? 

For us, the NDC, this is the time for action, not just words. It is time for solutions, not excuses.  For almost eight years, Ghanaians have suffered under Akufo-Addo and Bawumia.

Therefore, our approach will be swift and purposeful. In our first 120 days in office, together with my vice president, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, we shall work with Parliament to begin drafting the legal framework for this 24-hour Economy.

This is a concrete, actionable policy that will immediately begin to transform our economy. We will create the conditions for our youth and women to thrive and do so with urgency.

Imagine a Ghana where the markets bustle with activity, not just during the day but into the night. Picture young women in agriculture, leading with innovative technologies and small businesses powered by a national Women’s Development Bank, providing low-interest loans and gender-sensitive and considered services.

This is our vision: a Ghana where economic empowerment is not a privilege but a right. We will increase women’s representation in Parliament, district assemblies, and leadership roles across all sectors. We will do this because it is the right thing to do and because Ghana needs the best of its human resources.

By operationalising the Affirmative Action Act of 2024, we will ensure that women hold at least 30% of political appointments. We will pass the Property Rights of Spouses Bill, the Domestic Workers Bill, and the Intestate Succession Amendment Bill, further solidifying women’s rights and protections.

Our policies will directly target unemployment and economic empowerment. The Women’s Development Bank will support women-owned businesses, while our National Apprenticeship Programme will provide free TVET training to young people, especially women, in various trades.

Our Digital Jobs Initiative will train one million coders, including women, ensuring that Ghanaian women are included in the global digital economy. Additionally, our Adwumawura Programme will mentor and support 10,000 start-ups annually.

Let me reiterate that these programmes are not abstract concepts but rooted in Ghana’s current realities. 

With 27.7% of women experiencing gender-based violence, we will implement a national Zero Tolerance Policy on sexual harassment and domestic violence. We reject the notion that women should suffer in silence.

We will establish regional shelters, provide comprehensive care for survivors, and work to eliminate the scourge of violence that holds too many women back.

Throughout my presidency, the NDC showed commitment to gender equality, but we are aware of the remaining challenges. From the Affirmative Action policies we supported to the social protection initiatives we pioneered, we have laid the groundwork.

Now, we must build on these successes with renewed energy and focus. So, ladies and gentlemen, I offer you a social contract with the NDC I shall lead. Within the first 14 days of my presidency, I will nominate my Cabinet – 30% of whom will be women.

I will address the high cost of living by scrapping draconian taxes like the E-Levy and COVID levy. I will ensure the implementation of our 24-hour Economy and distribute free sanitary pads to all girls in primary and secondary schools.

I will establish the Women’s Development Bank and launch the Adwumawura, National Apprenticeship, and One Million Coders programmes.

You, the women of Ghana, are the heart of this vision. Whether you are a hairdresser, farmer, teacher, or entrepreneur, you are the driving force behind Ghana’s future.

Today, we stand at the crossroads of history. I ask you, the women of Ghana here in the Ashanti Region and all the 16 regions, to march forward with me to create a Ghana where women are celebrated as nation builders.

A Ghana where your strength, intelligence and resilience are admired and actively harnessed for our nation's betterment.

Join me, Naana Jane and the NDC. The time for change is now, and the leaders of that change are you – the women of Ghana. With your strength, passion and determination, we can create a nation where every woman is empowered to lead and to succeed.

So, let us rise together, hand in hand, as we create a future of equal opportunity and prosperity for all. 

Together, we shall march towards a future where women are not just participants in our development but leaders, a future where every girl and every woman can fulfil her potential.

I thank you, and may God bless us all.