A four day consultative engagement between the Government of Ghana and representatives of the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS Gender Development Centre has concluded with a reaffirmed drive to enhance political participation among women and young people across the West African sub region. The programme brought together regional officials, government leaders, and key stakeholders to deliberate actionable steps to strengthen inclusive governance, democratic participation, and equitable access to political processes.
Organised under the coordination of Ghana’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the High Level Regional Consultation and Advocacy Meeting served as a platform to assess progress, identify barriers, and propose targeted strategies for improving representation in political leadership and decision making spaces. Discussions centred on the need to move beyond existing policy frameworks to actual implementation and measurable outcomes that reflect genuine inclusion.
In her remarks at the closing ceremony, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang emphasised the urgency of translating commitments into concrete action. She underscored that while regional instruments such as the ECOWAS Gender and Youth Policy provide a foundation for inclusion, the actual representation of women and youth in leadership roles remains disproportionately low across member states. She stressed that inclusion must not be symbolic but a strategic imperative for consolidating democratic governance and driving sustainable development throughout the region.
The Vice President called on regional leaders to intensify efforts in creating meaningful political opportunities, removing structural barriers, and expanding platforms where women and young people can participate effectively in political life. Her address highlighted that strengthening inclusive political environments contributes not only to gender equity but also to socio economic resilience and the overall democratic health of ECOWAS member states.
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, reiterated Ghana’s commitment to fostering partnerships that advocate for the rights, welfare, and empowerment of women and other vulnerable groups. She affirmed that Ghana will continue to support initiatives aimed at enhancing capacities, widening access, and facilitating environments where all citizens can engage in governance processes on equal footing.
ECOWAS representatives attending the consultation expressed appreciation to Ghana for hosting the regional meeting and acknowledged the discussions as a significant step toward strengthening cooperation on inclusive governance matters. They described the outcomes as instrumental in advancing shared objectives and reinforcing mechanisms for monitoring progress on gender and youth inclusion across member states.
The closure of the consultative engagement comes amid ongoing regional efforts to address broader political and governance challenges within the bloc. ECOWAS has been engaged in various initiatives aimed at promoting democratic consolidation, conflict resolution, and economic integration, even as it confronts complex issues such as the withdrawal of member states and evolving security dynamics in certain areas of West Africa.
The renewed push for inclusion reflected at the conclusion of the talks aligns with a broader commitment by ECOWAS to deepen participatory governance and uphold democratic principles. It underscores that enhancing representation of women and youth is critical to achieving sustainable development goals and ensuring that governance systems reflect the diverse voices of all citizens.
As ECOWAS member states continue to navigate political transitions and governance reforms, stakeholders emphasized that sustained collaboration, resource mobilisation, and implementation of agreed recommendations will be essential to translating policy commitments into tangible results that empower women and young people across West Africa.