Violence Against Girls is an Economic Disaster: President Mahama’s Urgent Call to Action

In a powerful address at the 39th African Union Summit, former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, serving as the AU Champion on Gender and Development Issues, reframed the global conversation on gender-based violence. He declared unequivocally that violence against women and girls is not merely a moral or human rights issue but a profound economic catastrophe draining Africa’s resources. His announcement that Ghana’s Parliament would ratify the landmark African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG) in 2026 serves as a critical case study in using economic arguments to drive policy and legal reform. This article provides a comprehensive, SEO-optimized analysis of his statements, the conventions involved, the verifiable economic costs, and the practical pathway forward for nations.

Introduction: The Economic Argument as a Catalyst for Change

For decades, activism against gender-based violence (GBV) has centered on fundamental human rights, social justice, and moral imperatives. While these remain essential, President Mahama’s speech introduces a strategic, urgent lever: the national and continental balance sheet. By quantifying the impact of violence in terms of healthcare burdens, lost productivity, and justice system expenditures, he transforms an issue often sidelined as “social” into a core economic governance priority. This pedagogical shift aims to capture the attention of finance ministers, central banks, and investment councils—audiences for whom moral appeals may have limited traction. The ratification of the AUCEVAWG is presented not just as a symbolic treaty adoption but as a foundational investment in human capital and sustainable economic growth.

Key Points: Decoding President Mahama’s Announcement

Several critical messages emerged from the High-Level Breakfast Meeting on Financing and Reaffirming Africa’s Gender Commitments. These points form the core of the economic-disaster narrative:

• Imminent Ratification: Ghana will ratify the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG) in its current parliamentary session, setting a regional precedent.
• Economic Catastrophe Framework: Violence against women and girls is explicitly defined as an “economic catastrophe” costing Africa billions annually through direct healthcare costs, lost economic output from injured or traumatized individuals, and expenses within the justice and social services sectors.
• Urgent Call to Action: Mahama implored all 55 AU member states to sign and ratify the AUCEVAWG before the end of 2026, highlighting the slow pace of adoption since the convention’s adoption in February 2025.
• Dual Champion Role: As the AU Champion on Gender and Development, Mahama linked the ratification of the AUCEVAWG to the earlier Maputo Protocol, calling for the nine remaining states to ratify this cornerstone women’s rights treaty.
• Political Will Over Frameworks: His concluding remark, “Frameworks matter, but political will matters more,” underscores that legal instruments are ineffective without committed implementation, budgeting, and enforcement.

Background: Understanding the Legal Instruments

The African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG)

Adopted in February 2025 at the 38th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, the AUCEVAWG is a comprehensive, continent-specific legal framework. It defines violence against women and girls broadly, encompassing physical, sexual, psychological, and economic harm occurring in the family, community, or perpetrated by the state. Its objectives are to prevent, suppress, and punish all forms of violence, protect survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable. Ratification signifies a state’s consent to be legally bound by its provisions, requiring national legislative alignment, resource allocation, and reporting mechanisms.

The Maputo Protocol (The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa)

Adopted in 2003 and entered into force in 2005, the Maputo Protocol is the AU’s foundational human rights treaty for women. It guarantees comprehensive rights, including freedom