As Ghana’s Second National Action Plan (GHANAP II) on Women, Peace and Security nears the end of its implementation cycle, stakeholders have begun laying the groundwork for the country’s next plan of action.
From May 6–8, 2025, Ghana’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), in partnership with the Women, Youth, Peace and Security Institute (WYPSI) of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), convened a three-day Technical Working Group (TWG) workshop in Accra. The meeting brought together representatives from government, security institutions, civil society, and development partners to assess progress, identify challenges, and outline priorities for Ghana’s Third National Action Plan (GHANAP III).
Adopted globally in 2000, United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 underscores the critical role of women in peacebuilding and the urgent need to protect women and girls from the effects of conflict. Ghana responded with its first National Action Plan in 2012, followed by GHANAP II (2020–2025), which has guided national and institutional strategies over the last five years.
Speaking at the opening session, Madam Horname Noagbesenu, Acting Director of WYPSI and Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at KAIPTC, highlighted the importance of the review process: “This workshop represents a crucial step in evaluating how far we’ve come and how we can build a more inclusive and responsive framework for women, peace and security in Ghana.”
Over the three days, participants reviewed institutional work plans, shared progress updates, and developed a roadmap for drafting GHANAP III. A comprehensive report from the workshop will feed into broader national consultations and serve as a foundation for the next policy framework.
The Technical Working Group includes high-level representatives from ministries such as Defence, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Education, Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Gender, Children and Social Protection, and Parliamentary Affairs. Security sector agencies including the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service (DOVVSU), Immigration Service, and NADMO were also represented, alongside the Department of Gender and the National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism (NCCRM).
Civil society and development partners also played a prominent role, with contributions from organisations such as the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Gender Centre for Empowering Development (GENCED), Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF), Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Association of Queen Mothers, LOVEAID Foundation, FOSDA, and the Institute of Local Government Studies.
The workshop reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and ensuring that the voices of women and youth remain central in national and regional peacebuilding efforts.