Ghana is signatory to many international and regional frameworks seeking to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls and promote gender equality. The United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 1325) on Women Peace and Security is one of such enterprises adopted in October 2000 by the United Nations to recognise the rights and participation of women in all aspects of conflict prevention, peace negotiations peace keeping and post-war reconstruction .
Over the years Ghana has developed a country specific action plan in response to the implementation of Resolution 1325. The most recent National Action Plan dubbed the ‘Second Ghana National Action Plan (GHANAP 11)’ adopted in 2020 for the period of 2020-2025 was developed by the Ministry of Gender and Children Social Protection (MGCSP) in collaboration with Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping and Training Centre, WILPF, West African Network for Peace Building, UNDP and Canadian High Commission.
Ghana is renowned for her active participation in multiple peacekeeping operations in Africa and beyond. The national plan is therefore integral in sustaining both national and international peace and security and furthering local gender institutions .
Ghana’s second national action plan is preceded by one other action plan, GHANAP 1 for the period of 2012-2014. However it was not effectively implemented till its expiration in 2015.
The failure of GHANAP 1 was attributed to a lack of dedicated budget for effective implementation, lack of cooperation between stakeholders, non availability of women trained in Women, Peace and Security matters and a lack of public sensitization on the plan.
Since the expiration of GHANAP 1, Ghana was acknowledged in Tier 2 watch list by the U.S department of state for failure to protect against trafficking for three consecutive years. Furthermore, Women and girls in Ghana continue to be vulnerable to sexual violence, trafficking, child marriages and aftermath of intra-state conflicts.
GHANAP 11 seeks to reflect upon the lessons from the previous plan and address the challenges women and girls still face today. The primary objective of the national action plan is to build inclusive, secured and peaceful societies for women and girls in Ghana, structured on the pillars of the UNSCR; participation, prevention and protection
Two years on, GHANAP 11 faces a similar fate to the first; partly due to the dawn of Covid-19 pandemic. There’s need for deliberate actions and commitment from relevant stakeholders and the public to avoid a repeat performance.
Against this background, the Foundation for Security and Development In Africa (FOSDA) is seeking to conduct an evaluative monitoring of the remaining lifespan of the National action plan to engender an effective implementation.
The monitoring findings will lead to evidence driven advocacy that will encourage and urge stakeholders including Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAS) and Civil Society to effectively play their roles and share information.
The public as well must be sensitised on the UNSCR 1325 and understanding the national action plan to hold the relevant institutions accountable in the promotion of women in peace and security.
The implementation of the Women Peace and Security agenda on the African continent is advancing with the adoption of the Continental Results Framework (CRF) by the African Union to monitor and evaluate the progress made by Member states in promoting women in security
The framework establishes the African Union’s commitment to promoting women in Security and increasing the accountability of Member states.
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