President John Dramani Mahama has joined other world leaders for a global leaders’ meeting on women, popularly known as the Beijing Conference. He is accompanied by the First Lady, Lordina Dramani Mahama, for the meeting, which champions women’s empowerment in Beijing.
Hosted by President Xi Jinping and UN Women, the October 13 and 14 meeting would “renew the spirit of the Beijing Declaration and accelerate its implementation,” a statement from the Presidency said.
Beijing Conference @ 30
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, organised by the UN and held in Beijing.
The Beijing meeting is on the theme: "One Shared Future: New & Accelerated Process for Women's All-round Development".
It has attracted many heads of state, government leaders, parliamentary leaders, deputy prime ministers, ministerial officials, leaders of international organisations, and many other stakeholders from various continents.
The two-day meeting aims to inject new momentum into advancing gender equality and the well-rounded development of women, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
A series of events has already been held to commemorate the 30th anniversary.
One key event was the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly.
The review included an assessment of current challenges that affect the implementation of the Platform for Action, the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and its contribution towards the full realisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
President’s itinerary
In addition to the global leaders’ meeting, President Mahama and his delegation will also focus on strengthening Sino-Ghanaian ties and investment while in China.
He is expected to hold discussions with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi, and with the Premier of the State Council of China, Li Qiang.
President Mahama will also meet with Chinese business leaders and host a Presidential Investment Forum, expected to bring Ghanaian businesses, their Chinese counterparts, and investors together to explore opportunities in Ghana.
Delegation
Among President Mahama’s delegation is the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, and officials of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, the Free Zones Authority, and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority.
Also included in the President’s delegation are the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Naa Momo Lartey; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, and the Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, who is representing the Minister of Finance, who is leading another delegation to the Wold Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in the United States capital, Washington DC.
The rest are the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama; the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe; the Presidential Advisor and Special Aide, Joyce Bawah Mogtari; the Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim; and a Presidential Staffer, Nana Yaa Gyantuah.
The delegation will also visit Fujian Province and meet with businesses operating in Ghana.
A statement from the Presidency said, “The engagements aim to strengthen the long-standing partnership between Ghana and China and promote greater cooperation in areas of mutual interest.”
