Inadequate Funding Hinders Implementation of Ghana's Women, Peace, and Security Plan

The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) has urged the Ghanaian government to provide adequate and dedicated funding for the implementation of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). According to FOSDA's Director, Mrs. Dorothy Barnes, insufficient financing has hindered the delivery of key activities under the programme. She made this call at a stakeholder validation meeting on the final evaluation of FOSDA's monitoring of the Second Ghana National Action Plan (GHANAP II) project in Accra.

Mrs. Barnes reported that only three out of 46 activities under GHANAP II had been fully implemented, while 24 were partly delivered, 11 recorded limited delivery, and eight were not implemented. Despite Ghana's progress in promoting gender equality, peace, and security, including the passage of the Affirmative Action Act, inadequate funding remains a major obstacle to the effective implementation of the action plan. Institutions rely substantially on donor support and resources allocated to other programmes due to the lack of a dedicated budget for GHANAP II.

The GHANAP II aimed to increase women's representation in peacebuilding and decision-making roles by 30 per cent, eliminate sexual and gender-based violence, and protect human rights. Mrs. Barnes expressed concern about the limited availability of shelters and psychological support for victims of gender-based violence. She emphasized that women and girls experiencing violence should not face additional financial and social barriers to access protection and justice.

Mrs. Barnes called for a shift from broad commitments under the action plan to a focused, measurable, and adequately resourced implementation framework as Ghana prepares to develop its third action plan on women, peace, and security. The Senior Programme Liaison Officer at the High Commission of Canada, Mrs. Bertha Desmennu, commended the government and stakeholders for their contributions to GHANAP II and reaffirmed Canada's commitment to supporting the agenda in Ghana through civil society organisations, including FOSDA.

The evaluation findings of GHANAP II provide valuable evidence to strengthen accountability, inform future programming, and support the development of the next national action plan. Mrs. Desmennu emphasized that advancing the women, peace, and security agenda requires sustained commitment and collaboration among relevant stakeholders. The meeting brought together stakeholders from government institutions, security agencies, and civil society organisations to contribute to the evaluation report.

Ghana has made progress in promoting gender equality, peace, and security, including encouraging developments in women's leadership and representation. However, gender mainstreaming must go beyond having policies, offices, and focal persons. It must be reflected in budgets, recruitments, promotions, operational practices, accountability mechanisms, and the everyday experiences of women and men within institutions.

The stakeholders' validation meeting aimed to ensure that the evaluation report accurately reflects the challenges and successes of GHANAP II and provides a solid foundation for the development of the next national action plan. The report is expected to inform future programming and support the implementation of the women, peace, and security agenda in Ghana.

Key points

• Inadequate funding has hindered the implementation of Ghana's National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, with only three out of 46 activities fully implemented.
• The plan aimed to increase women's representation in peacebuilding and decision-making roles by 30 per cent, eliminate sexual and gender-based violence, and protect human rights.
• Stakeholders have called for sustained commitment and collaboration to advance the women, peace, and security agenda in Ghana.