The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to supporting the African Union Champion on Gender and Development and cited recent measures taken by the country to promote gender equality.

She said Ghana’s commitment was reflected in the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121), the National Gender Policy 2025 to 2034 and Parliament’s approval of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.

Dr Lartey made the statement when she received the final Work Plan for the African Union Champion on Gender and Development for 2026 to 2028 on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama.

The Work Plan was presented by the Director of the African Union Commission’s Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD), Ms Prudence Nonkululeko Ngwenya, at the close of a three-day Strategy Co-Creation and Validation Workshop held in Accra.

Ms Ngwenya said participants had been deliberate in defining an innovative and impactful role for the Champion, particularly as Ghana prepares for its upcoming leadership of the African Union.

She said gender equality remained central to AU Agenda 2063, economic growth and social development, with the Champion expected to mobilise political support and advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment at the highest level.

Receiving the Work Plan, Dr Lartey said the document was not an end result in itself but a roadmap for action.

She said its value would ultimately be measured by its translation into concrete interventions, strengthened policies, mobilised resources and measurable improvements in the lives of women and girls across Africa.

The three-day engagement focused on the Champion’s comparative advantage, vision and theory of change, strategic priorities, Presidential initiatives, implementation and partnerships, investment, monitoring and accountability.

The validated Work Plan is expected to provide a clear framework for coordinated action as Ghana works with the African Union Commission to advance the gender equality and development agenda across Africa.