MoGCSP, AWLN GHANA MARK 25 YEARS OF UNSCR 1325 WITH RENEWED CALL FOR WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP IN PEACE AND SECURITY

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), in collaboration with the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Ghana Chapter, on Friday, 31st October 2025, held a press briefing in Accra to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The event reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to advancing women’s leadership and participation in peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

Held under the global theme “Empowering Women as Agents of Peace: Strengthening Community Resilience through Inclusive Leadership,” the commemoration provided a platform to reflect on progress made, identify gaps, and chart the way forward for the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in Ghana.

In her keynote address, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, described the anniversary as a significant milestone for reassessing Ghana’s dedication to empowering women as agents of peace and development. She emphasised that Resolution 1325, adopted in 2000, remains a landmark global framework recognising women as active agents of change rather than passive victims of conflict.

Hon. Dr. Naa Momo Lartey highlighted Ghana’s progress in implementing the WPS agenda through the rollout of the first and second Ghana National Action Plans (GHANAP I and GHANAP II). She also cited major achievements, including the passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121), the appointment of Gender Focal Persons across security institutions, and the operationalisation of gender policies within the Ghana Armed Forces, Police Service, Immigration Service, and Prisons Service.

The Minister further celebrated the growing participation of Ghanaian women in peacekeeping and leadership roles, as well as the election of the country’s first female Vice President — describing it as a monumental stride toward gender inclusivity in national governance.

Touching on emerging challenges, the Minister noted that the forthcoming Ghana National Action Plan III (GHANAP III) will address evolving threats such as cybersecurity, violent extremism, and climate-related insecurities, while prioritising sustainable funding and inter-sectoral coordination. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening women’s inclusion, resilience, and leadership in peace and security processes.

Delivering remarks on behalf of AWLN Ghana, the Chairperson, Dr. Charity Binka, paid tribute to the resilience and leadership of Ghanaian women who have shaped the peace and security landscape over the past 25 years. She stressed that peace cannot be achieved or sustained without women’s full and equal participation, urging greater investment in women’s leadership across governance, security, and development sectors. Dr. Binka reaffirmed AWLN Ghana’s commitment to working with the Ministry and partners to accelerate women’s leadership for peace and security.

Development partners, including UN Women’s Dr. Afua Ansre and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) represented by Mr. Albert Yelyang, commended Ghana’s progress under the WPS framework and called for continued collaboration to address emerging threats affecting women and girls. They reiterated their readiness to support government and stakeholders in advancing gender-responsive peacebuilding at both national and community levels.

A technical presentation on “Twenty-Five Years of UNSCR 1325: Ghana’s Progress and Gaps in the Implementation of GHANAP I and II — Reflections on GHANAP III” highlighted key achievements, lessons learned, and strategies to strengthen inclusion, accountability, and resilience in the next phase of implementation. The session reinforced the importance of consolidating Ghana’s gains and sustaining momentum in advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

The press briefing concluded with an interactive media engagement, where journalists discussed Ghana’s progress under the WPS agenda with the Minister and organisers. The dialogue provided an opportunity to share insights on ongoing efforts to promote women’s participation in peacebuilding and national security.

The commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325 reaffirmed Ghana’s continued leadership and commitment to advancing gender equality, inclusion, and peacebuilding. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, together with its partners, remains resolute in ensuring that peace and security initiatives at all levels reflect the voices, priorities, and leadership of women.

Source: MoGCSP