GENDER MINISTER CHAMPIONS WOMEN’S ROLE IN PEACE BUILDING AT HIGH-LEVEL FORUM

The Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to promoting women’s active involvement in conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts.

She made this known during her participation in the Conflict Prevention and Sustainable Peace Forum, held under the theme “Amplifying Women’s Voices in Democratic and Political Transitions” at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.

The high-level forum, supported by the Australian Government in partnership with WANEP and WADEMOS, brought together key stakeholders to explore how women’s voices and leadership can be effectively harnessed to foster peace and democratic resilience.

In her remarks, the Minister emphasized that women are not merely victims of conflict but powerful agents of peace. She underscored the need to build the capacity of women, particularly at the local level, to enable them to contribute meaningfully to decision-making and conflict resolution processes.

“Women’s participation in peacebuilding is not just a moral obligation; it is a strategic necessity for achieving lasting peace,” she stated.

She also highlighted the significance of Ghana’s proposed Affirmative Action Bill, which seeks to bridge gender gaps in governance and ensure that women are adequately represented at all levels of political and social leadership.

According to her, empowering women through legislation and grassroots engagement is essential to achieving inclusive governance and sustainable peace.

The forum provided a valuable platform to share best practices, review existing policies, and strengthen collaborations aimed at advancing gender equality in political transitions and conflict contexts.

Source: MoGCSP