Former President John Dramani Mahama has called for immediate action to address the high unemployment rate among women in Ghana.
Speaking at the launch of the NDC Women’s Manifesto on Monday, September 30, 2024, Mahama emphasized the urgent need to tackle gender inequality, particularly in the informal sector, where the majority of women lack basic social protections.
“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,” Mahama remarked.
He highlighted the importance of this sector, which contributes between 30-40% of Ghana’s GDP.
Drawing attention to statistics from the 2020 Census, Mahama revealed that poverty among women is disproportionately high. “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,” he stated.
Mahama expressed concern over the fact that nearly 54% of unemployed people in Ghana are women, describing it as a national challenge. “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?” he questioned.
He urged that the alarming figures should not only be a wake-up call but also inspire action. “These numbers should not just shock us; they should spur us to act. 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,” Mahama said.
Highlighting the crucial role women play in society, he stated, “They are the backbone of our communities, yet they bear the heaviest burdens of inequality. This must change.”
Mahama reiterated the NDC’s commitment to addressing these challenges through their Resetting Ghana Manifesto, with job creation being a top priority. “First and foremost, job creation is at the heart of our agenda,” he assured.
The former president outlined the NDC’s plans to implement a 24-hour economy, which would create employment opportunities for Ghanaians. “The NDC will implement a 24-Hour Economy, creating opportunities for businesses to operate around the clock in three shifts. Instead of one person working one job as a singular shift, we shall now have, for the same job, three people working in three shifts,” he explained.
He added that the initiative would lead to massive job creation and increased productivity. “Imagine the potential—thousands of new jobs created, productivity at an all-time high, and our nation reaping the benefits of a stronger economy,” Mahama said, assuring that young people and women, in particular, would benefit from this new approach.
Mahama concluded by affirming the NDC’s dedication to alleviating unemployment and poverty, promising that Ghanaians “will no longer have to suffer for jobs like before.”