The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), in partnership with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the governments of Ghana and Austria, convened the West and Central African Regional Conference on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Held in Accra, the conference highlighted Africa’s moral leadership in disarmament and the urgent need to eliminate nuclear threats.

Ghana hosted the meeting as the 74th state party to the TPNW. After years of stakeholder engagement with agencies like the Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana’s parliament unanimously ratified the treaty in June 2025. By depositing its instrument of ratification in September 2025, Ghana reaffirmed its historical commitment to a “world without the bomb”.

The conference occurred against a backdrop of the highest nuclear risk since the Cold War. Experts noted that the Doomsday Clock was recently reset to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest point to annihilation in history. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that no government or organization can respond effectively to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of a nuclear detonation. Participants further emphasized that even a limited nuclear exchange would cause global climate disruption, famine, and mass displacement.

The TPNW reinforces the Treaty of Pelindaba, which established Africa as a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. Representatives from the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) emphasized that the TPNW does not impose “additional prohibitions” on Pelindaba members, but rather provides a global legal framework to fulfill the vision of a nuclear-free continent.

Key Priorities for African States

With the first TPNW Review Conference scheduled for late 2026 under South Africa’s presidency, the Accra meeting established a clear roadmap for the region. States were encouraged to deposit their instruments of ratification by September 1, 2026, to be official parties at the upcoming Review Conference. ICAN and the ICRC highlighted the availability of technical assistance, including model laws and reporting toolkits, to support national implementation. The African Union also noted that African advocacy for the TPNW is a powerful tool in the broader push for UN Security Council reform, challenging the “nuclear apartheid” of the permanent five members.