A High-Level Ministerial Meeting on the Political Participation and Leadership of Women and Youth in West Africa was held on Wednesday, February 19, 2026, as part of a four-day regional engagement hosted by the Government of Ghana.

The meeting was organised through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre, under the Regional Consultation on Political Participation and Leadership of Women and Youth in West Africa.

The engagement, which began on February 17, forms part of the ECOWAS Anniversary Legacy Project, an initiative aimed at advancing gender parity and inclusive governance across ECOWAS Member States.

Welcoming participants, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, described the consultation as timely and critical to strengthening gender inclusion efforts in the sub-region.

She observed that although women and young people constitute the majority of West Africa’s population and continue to drive innovation, resilience and development, their representation in political leadership and decision-making institutions remains limited.

The Minister reaffirmed the Government of Ghana’s commitment to promoting gender equality and youth empowerment in line with international and regional frameworks.

She highlighted key national interventions, including the Government’s Reset Agenda, the enactment of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, and the ongoing review of the National Gender and Youth Policies.

According to her, these measures are deliberate efforts to address the structural, institutional and socio-cultural barriers that hinder the full participation of women and young people in governance.

The Chair of ECOWAS Ministers responsible for Gender, Madam Isata Mahoi, described the consultation as a call to action for Member States to dismantle legal, cultural and institutional barriers to participation.

She urged countries to strengthen affirmative action and electoral reforms, while promoting mentorship and leadership opportunities that will position women and young people as key architects of the region’s democratic future.

The meeting reaffirmed the shared responsibility of ECOWAS Member States to translate regional commitments into concrete national actions that promote inclusive governance, democratic resilience and sustainable development across West Africa.