(Accra, 17 November 2025) — The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), through its Women, Youth, Peace and Security Institute (WYPSI), has commenced a five-day regional training programme aimed at strengthening strategic leadership and coordination capacities for the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda across ECOWAS Member States.
The training, organized by the Directorate of Humanitarian Affairs at the ECOWAS Commission in collaboration with the KAIPTC and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and with funding support from the German Government and European Union through the EPSG project, brings together National WPS Focal Points from ECOWAS Member States, representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, development partners, regional women’s networks, and civil society organisations.
Strengthening Leadership for Effective WPS Implementation
Opening the workshop, the Acting Commandant of KAIPTC, Air Commodore David Anetey Akrong, underscored the progress made since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 twenty-five years ago, noting that West Africa continues to take important steps toward strengthening women’s inclusion in peace and security processes.
However, he highlighted persistent obstacles to effective implementation, including weak institutional coordination, inconsistent stakeholder engagement, and limited leadership capacities within national WPS mechanisms.
“The evolving security environment in West Africa — shaped by violent extremism, political instability and climate-induced insecurity — demands stronger, more strategic leadership to drive collective and sustainable progress,” he said.
He noted that the course is designed to build the leadership, negotiation and coordination skills needed for Focal Points to design and implement impactful national WPS systems aligned with both the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan and the AU Continental Results Framework.
Ghana Reaffirms Commitment to the WPS Agenda
In her remarks, Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, emphasised Ghana’s continued leadership in advancing the WPS agenda. She highlighted achievements including the passage of the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act (Act 1121), the appointment of gender focal persons across national security institutions, and significant progress under Ghana’s second National Action Plan (2020–2025).
“This workshop is timely as we mark 25 years of UNSCR 1325. Strengthening coordination and leadership at this stage is essential for consolidating gains and addressing emerging threats,” she said.
She urged participants to take full advantage of the training to improve collaboration and enhance national mechanisms that support women’s participation, protection and leadership in peace and security.
Partners Reaffirm Support for ECOWAS
Representing GIZ, Dr. Dirk Abmann, Country Director of GIZ Ghana, reiterated the commitment of Germany and the European Union to supporting ECOWAS in advancing gender-responsive peace and security.
“Sustainable peace is only possible when women participate meaningfully at all levels of decision-making,” he said. “This is why the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance Project places the voices of women and youth at the centre of conflict prevention and peacebuilding.”
He emphasized the value of peer learning and regional networks in strengthening national WPS coordination structures.
A Targeted and Collaborative Approach
The five-day workshop will combine facilitator-led sessions with experiential learning, including group work, simulations, negotiation exercises, and peer exchanges. Participants will also develop context-specific national coordination action plans to strengthen WPS implementation in their respective countries.
The training is part of KAIPTC’s ongoing efforts to support regional and national institutions to improve policy coherence, accountability and collaboration in advancing women’s participation and leadership in peace and security.
Looking Ahead
Participants are expected to emerge with enhanced leadership and coordination competencies, a stronger understanding of national and regional WPS frameworks, and practical tools to translate WPS commitments into measurable action.
Other speakers at the opening of the workshop included Mr. Ibrahim Kamara, Director Policy, Research and Strategic Planning, Ministry of Gender and Children and Social Protection, Sierra Leone and Mr. Olatunde Olayemi, Programme Officer, Social Dimension of Anti-Human Trafficking, Representing The Director, Humanitarian and Social Affairs, ECOWAS
The workshop runs from 17–21 November 2025 at KAIPTC.