President John Dramani Mahama has called for stronger global efforts to empower women and girls, stressing that true development is impossible without gender equality.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Thursday, September 25, he said the future must be one of inclusion and fairness.

“For the sake of Africa, and quite selfishly, for the sake of my 18-year-old daughter, I hope this new world that is arriving is a place of safety and equality for women and girls,” he stated.

He added that empowering women is not optional but essential for progress.

“To succeed, we must empower everyone, including women and girls, to reach their full potential,” President Mahama said.

He congratulated Vice-President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on becoming Ghana’s first female Vice-President, describing her rise as a milestone for women.

“Now every Ghanaian girl knows the heights to which she can ascend,” he said.

President Mahama also expressed hope that the United Nations will soon appoint its first female Secretary-General.

“Words matter, but issues of representation matter even more,” he concluded.