The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in collaboration with the Government of Ghana and development partners have expressed commitment to strengthening gender equality and women’s empowerment through stronger institutions, improved coordination and evidence-based policymaking across the sub-region.

The commitment was renewed at the 2026 ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC) Annual Briefing and Information Sharing Session with Gender Focal Persons from ECOWAS Member States in Accra.

The four-day meeting, being held from July 28 to 31, aims to review the Centre’s achievements from 2022 to 2026 and also set strategic priorities to guide its work over the next four years.

It is also expected to finalise the operationalisation of the ECOWAS Gender Observatory (ECOGO), a regional platform designed to improve the production, analysis and dissemination of gender data to support evidence-based decision-making on issues affecting women and girls across West Africa.

Speaking at the opening session, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, Ambassador Mohammed Lawan Gana, said the gathering sought to strengthen collaboration among member states, enhance the capacity of national gender focal persons to implement regional gender policies and introduce the Gender Observatory to improve data collection, reporting and analysis.

He acknowledged progress made in women’s leadership, education, entrepreneurship and peacebuilding but noted that persistent gender inequalities, weak institutional capacity, limited coordination and inadequate financing continue to slow progress.

Ambassador Gana called for stronger institutions, sustainable financing and enhanced technical capacity to accelerate the implementation of the ECOWAS Gender Policy, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the Maputo Protocol, Sustainable Development Goal Five and the ECOWAS 2026–2030 Strategic Agenda.

In a statement read on her behalf, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to promoting gender equality and protecting the rights of women and girls.

She highlighted Ghana’s implementation of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Act, 2024, which provides for a minimum of 30 per cent female representation by 2026, 35 per cent by 2028 and gender parity by 2034.

The Krowor MP also cited the launch of the revised National Gender Policy (2025–2034), expanded social protection interventions, measures to tackle sexual and gender-based violence, child marriage and human trafficking, and the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank to enhance women’s economic empowerment.

The annual meeting builds on commitments made under the Saly Oath, adopted in 2023 to formalise the role of Gender Focal Points in advancing the ECOWAS agenda on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Since then, the focal points have served as a vital link between the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre and member states, supporting the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of regional gender initiatives.