A four-day engagement between the Government of Ghana and the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre has ended with a renewed commitment to advancing women and youth participation in politics and strengthening inclusive governance across West Africa.
The programme, coordinated by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, concluded with a High-Level Regional Consultation and Advocacy Meeting.
The event brought together ECOWAS representatives, government officials, and key stakeholders to deliberate on practical steps to enhance democratic participation within the sub-region.
Addressing the closing ceremony, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang urged leaders to intensify efforts to create meaningful political opportunities for women and young people. She stressed that commitments must translate into concrete actions that enable broader participation in governance and decision-making processes.
She noted that although regional frameworks such as the ECOWAS Gender and Youth Policy exist, representation of women and youth in leadership and decision-making spaces remains low. According to her, inclusion must not be symbolic but treated as a strategic necessity for democratic consolidation and sustainable development in the region.
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to sustaining partnerships that promote the rights and welfare of women and vulnerable groups.
ECOWAS representatives expressed appreciation to Ghana for hosting the consultation, describing its outcomes as a significant step toward deeper regional cooperation and more inclusive democratic growth in West Africa.
