The four-day regional engagement between the Government of Ghana and the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre concluded in Accra with a unified call to accelerate the participation of women and youth in political leadership across West Africa.
Coordinated by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the summit brought together policymakers and international stakeholders to address the persistent gap between gender-inclusive policies and their practical application in governance.
Delivering the closing address, Ghana’s Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, emphasized that the inclusion of marginalized groups is a strategic necessity for regional stability rather than a mere symbolic gesture. She noted that while regional frameworks like the ECOWAS Gender and Youth Policy exist, the actual representation of these groups in decision-making spaces remains critically low.
The Vice President urged West African leaders to move beyond theoretical commitments and establish tangible pathways that allow women and young people to hold influential positions, arguing that such diversity strengthens democratic resilience and institutional effectiveness.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, reinforced this stance by pledging the Ministry’s continued support for regional partnerships aimed at protecting the welfare of vulnerable groups. ECOWAS representatives praised the Ghanaian government for hosting the consultation, characterizing the renewed commitments as a vital step toward deepening democratic inclusion throughout the sub-region.
The high-level advocacy meeting served as the final act of the engagement, signaling a shift toward more rigorous implementation of inclusive governance standards in West Africa.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
