Mahama: Underfunding of Gender Agenda a Serious Threat to Development Agenda on the Continent
Former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has cautioned that underfunding of gender programs is a serious threat to the development agenda on the continent. In his address at a recent forum on the continent, Mahama noted that empowering women and promoting gender equality are crucial for development on the continent.
Mahama noted that despite the fact that many countries on the continent have committed themselves to gender equality through international agreements such as the SDGs, underfunding of gender programs is a major challenge.
Gender Equality: The Key to Development on the Continent
Mahama noted that women are a significant part of the workforce on the continent, particularly in the agriculture, trade, education, and healthcare sectors. “Ignoring gender equality or underfunding initiatives aimed at empowering women is not only unjust but also economically shortsighted,” Mahama noted.
Mahama noted that women play a crucial role in development on the continent, particularly in driving entrepreneurship and governance. He noted that women play a crucial role in driving development on the continent, particularly in driving entrepreneurship and governance. However, underfunding of gender programs has been a challenge.
Africa’s Development at Risk
The ex-president cautioned that the lack of sufficient funding for the gender agenda could slow down development in various sectors such as education, health, and economic empowerment. He reiterated that gender inequality is a hindrance to the achievement of inclusive development and political stability on the continent.
“Development that leaves half the population behind is fragile and unsustainable,” Mahama said.
Call for Continental and National Action
Mahama called on African governments, development partners, and financial institutions to make gender-focused policies and programs a priority in terms of funding. He called for:
- Budgetary allocations for women’s education, entrepreneurship, and health to be increased
- Investments in leadership development and political empowerment of women to be made
- Gender-focused institutions and monitoring mechanisms to be strengthened
- Partnerships between governments, the private sector, and civil society to scale up initiatives
The ex-president reiterated that investments in women’s empowerment are not social issues but drivers of economic transformation.
Linking Gender Funding to Economic Growth
Experts agree with Mahama that countries that invest in gender equality have higher productivity, innovation, and social cohesion.
In Africa, underfunding gender programs may result in an increase of the socio-economic gap.
Mahama’s words echo the current discourse among international development agencies on the need for a more inclusive and evidence-based approach to funding that empowers women and girls.
Looking Ahead
Mahama ended his speech with an emphasis on how African leaders must commit themselves to fully funding gender programs and integrating them into national development planning. This is the only way that the full potential of the people of Africa can be harnessed.
