Vice president reaffirms commitment to women and youth political inclusion in West Africa

Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to advancing political participation and leadership opportunities for women and young people across West Africa.

Addressing the High-Level Regional Consultation on Political Participation and Leadership of Women and Young People in West Africa, she noted that although the region has adopted various policy frameworks and commitments, women and youth remain significantly underrepresented in political leadership and decision-making spaces.

She outlined Ghana’s ongoing efforts to strengthen inclusion through legal and institutional reforms, including the implementation of the Affirmative Action Act aimed at promoting women’s leadership in public life.

Under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, she said, gender equity continues to be treated as a governance priority.

The Vice President also highlighted initiatives to deepen youth engagement through platforms created by the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment and the National Youth Authority, designed to empower young people and amplify their voices in governance processes.

She stressed that inclusion must go beyond symbolism, emphasizing that institutions perform more effectively when leadership reflects the diversity of society.

Ghana, she added, is prepared to collaborate with Economic Community of West African States and other regional partners to share best practices and learn from collective experiences.

Concluding her address, the Vice President called for sustained dialogue, deliberate investment in leadership development, mentorship, and capacity building, particularly at the grassroots level, while reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to translating inclusion into tangible action.