President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo has urged the 17-member states of the African Union (AU) to ratify the 2003 Maputo Protocol, which is the protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.
As co-chair of the Eminent Group of Advocates on the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and African Union Gender Champion, President Akufo-Addo stated that SDG 5 – which defines the goal of gender equality and full female empowerment – is at the heart of the structure of the SDGs.
“We do ourselves and future generations a great disservice if we leave women out of the agenda for development,” he said.
Whilst acknowledging the cultural and religious sensibilities of some to the teachings of the Maputo Protocol, President Akufo-Addo stated, “Having regard to the unfolding nature of the 21st century, with its accent on gender equality and the promotion of women’s rights as central to prospects for progress and prosperity, I would, respectfully, entreat the 17 countries on the continent, which are yet to ratify the Protocol, to do so by the year 2020, the target date set by the AU.”
The president made this known on Monday when he opened a forum on the discussion of the Maputo Protocol, which took place on the sidelines of the ongoing African Union Summit, which was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia a few days ago.
President Akufo-Addo stressed that the Maputo Protocol “is the blueprint for empowering our women and young girls, who constitute 51% of Africa’s population. In the words of my illustrious compatriot, Kofi Annan, the former United Nations Secretary General, ‘Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance.’”