Post a comment 
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Isata Mahoi, has called on Gender Ministers and development partners across West Africa to take decisive steps to remove barriers preventing women and youth from fully participating in politics.
Dr. Mahoi made the call during the ongoing regional consultation on political participation and leadership of women and youth in West Africa, held in Accra, Ghana, as part of activities marking the 50th Anniversary Legacy Project of the Economic Community of West African States.
Delivering her opening statement in her capacity as Chair of the ECOWAS Ministers responsible for gender, Dr. Mahoi described the four-day consultation as timely and critical in West Africa’s democratic journey. She emphasized that the gathering was not merely for deliberations, but to reaffirm a shared commitment to inclusive governance.
She urged her colleagues to examine the legal, cultural, economic, and institutional barriers that continue to hinder women and youth from engaging meaningfully in politics. According to her, a collective roadmap must be developed in alignment with ECOWAS Vision 2050, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“The voices of women and youth are indispensable to the future of our democracies. Yet, despite their numbers, energy, and contributions, they remain underrepresented in political decision-making across our region,” Dr. Mahoi stated.
She warned that persistent imbalances undermine the principles of equality, justice, and sustainable development that ECOWAS stands for. Political participation, she noted, is not just about representation in numbers, but about influence, leadership, and the power to shape policies that reflect the realities of citizens.
Dr. Mahoi stressed that the exclusion of women and youth is not only a democratic deficit but also a missed opportunity for transformation. She called on participants to make their deliberations bold and their recommendations practical, with unwavering resolve to dismantle systemic barriers.
The Minister further encouraged delegates to use the platform to share best practices and innovative strategies from across Member States, and to deliberate on a draft declaration on gender parity prepared by experts for adoption and submission to the Authority of Heads of State.
On behalf of the ECOWAS Ministers responsible for gender, Dr. Mahoi expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Ghana for hosting the consultation, as well as to partners and stakeholders supporting efforts to advance gender equality and youth empowerment in the region.
The consultation is taking place at the Mövenpick Hotel in Accra and is focused on promoting gender parity and inclusive leadership across ECOWAS Member States.
Dr. Mahoi was accompanied by Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba, along with Namisa Kramer, Director of Human Capital Development at the Presidential Delivery Team–State House; Charles B. Vandi, Chief Director at the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs; and Florence Taylor Young, State Counsel at the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice.
