Women in mediation network launched
A Women Mediators Network of Ghana (WoMNet) has been launched in Accra to promote women's role in peace and security.
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It is also to provide a platform for women with expertise in mediation, negotiation and mentorship to amplify their contributions and advocate inclusive peace-building efforts.
The launch of the network, on the theme "Investing in Women Peace and Security to Promote Peace and Political Stability in Ghana," was part of activities to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day and highlighted the urgent need for increased investment in women's participation in peace and security efforts.
It was launched with the support of organisations such as the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), Peace Legacy, the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives and the Global Affairs Canada, with partners such as the National Peace Council, UN Women and the Ministry for Gender, Children, and Social Protection.
Womens’ commitment
Speaking at a ceremony to unveil WoMNet, the Deputy Attorney General, Daina Asonabaa Dapaah, commended Ghanaian women for their resilience and unwavering commitment to peace-building, citing their involvement in political processes and advocacy for social justice.
She underscored the need to increase the participation of women in national affairs, highlighting the critical role they played in peace-building efforts.
The Deputy AG called for collective action to overcome barriers to women's participation in peace-building and decision-making processes.
Shared mandate
The Director of the Women, Youth, Peace, and Security Institute (WYPSI) at Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre (KAIPTC), Patience Agyare-Ashie, emphasised the shared mandate of the WYPSI and WoMNet-GH in promoting and implementing UN Security Resolution 1325 and its related resolutions.
She reiterated the importance of women's participation at all stages of peace processes, as well as their role in preventing and responding to gender-based violence within conflict-affected communities.
A member of the steering committee of WoMNet, Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim Hussain, expressed concern over the inadequate financial support for initiatives such as the Ghana National Plan on the UN Security Resolution 1325, citing reliance on external donors and a lack of government commitment.
She underscored the crucial link between women's involvement in peace processes and sustainable development, urging the passage of the long-pending affirmative action Bill to enhance inclusion.
Birth of WoMNet
The Executive Director of Foundation for Security Development in Africa (FOSDA), Theodora Williams-Anti, said WoMNet-GH started after FOSDA and Peace Legacy Africa, with funding from the Canadian Funds for Local Initiative organised a training session on Conflict Mediation for women in Ghana's peace and security sector in October 2022.
