During a High-Level Regional Consultation on inclusive governance in the sub-region, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to promoting women’s and youths’ political engagement and leadership throughout West Africa.
She highlighted in her speech that despite significant regional commitments and policy frameworks implemented by West African nations, women and young people are still disproportionately under-represented in positions of decision-making.
She described Ghana’s current efforts to address this disparity, such as the Affirmative Action Act’s operationalisation to increase the participation of women in public leadership.
Promoting gender equity is still seen as a national government objective under President John Dramani Mahama’s direction.
The Vice President also emphasised ways to increase youth involvement through programs run by the National Youth Authority and the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, which give young people the power to actively influence national development and policy.
Noting that governance institutions work best when they represent the diversity of the populations they serve, she emphasised the importance of inclusive leadership for democratic resilience and institutional success. She reaffirmed that Ghana is still willing to work with the Economic Community of West African States and other regional partners in order to share expertise, build capacity, and hasten development.
Source: newsthemegh.com