Ghana–ECOWAS Talks End with Push for Women Inclusion in Governance
A four-day engagement between the Government of Ghana and the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre has concluded with a renewed commitment to advancing women and youth participation in politics, as stakeholders intensify efforts to promote inclusive governance across the West African sub-region.
The programme, coordinated by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, climaxed with a High-Level Regional Consultation and Advocacy Meeting. The event convened ECOWAS representatives, government officials, civil society actors and development partners to deliberate on practical strategies aimed at strengthening democratic participation and representation.
Delivering remarks at the closing ceremony, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang called on leaders across the region to move beyond policy commitments and take decisive action to expand political opportunities for women and young people. She stressed that inclusion must be intentional and measurable, rather than symbolic, if the region is to achieve meaningful democratic progress.
According to her, while frameworks such as the ECOWAS Gender and Youth Policy provide a solid foundation, implementation gaps continue to limit the representation of women and youth in leadership and decision-making spaces. She warned that without deliberate interventions, structural barriers, including limited access to resources, socio-cultural norms and political financing constraints would persist.
“Inclusion is not optional; it is a strategic imperative for democratic consolidation and sustainable development,” she emphasised, urging governments to institutionalise reforms that lower entry barriers into politics for underrepresented groups.
Also addressing the gathering, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening partnerships that advance the rights and welfare of women, youth and other vulnerable populations. She highlighted the importance of sustained advocacy, capacity-building and policy alignment across ECOWAS member states.
Participants at the consultation underscored the need for targeted interventions, including leadership training programmes, affirmative action policies, and improved access to campaign financing for women and youth candidates. There were also calls for enhanced data collection and monitoring systems to track progress on inclusion across the region.
Representatives of the Economic Community of West African States commended Ghana for hosting the engagement, describing it as a critical platform for deepening regional cooperation and aligning national efforts with broader continental goals.
The outcomes of the meeting are expected to inform future policy directions and reinforce collaborative initiatives aimed at building more inclusive, representative and resilient democratic systems across West Africa.
