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Meeting with Muslim Leaders: Muntaka calls for unity in promoting peace and security
At a crucial meeting with Muslim Religious Leaders and Zongo Chiefs at the National Mosque Conference Room in Accra, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, Minister for the Interior called on the leaders to use their authority to support the security services to ensure peace and security in their communities.
According to him, Muslim Religious Leaders and Chiefs are well respected for shaping the moral fabric in the Zongo communities and there is the need for a collaborative approach to peace-building in the country for the safety of all.
On assumption of office, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has been engaging key stakeholders such as the Regional House of Chiefs, Christian Religious Leaders, Muslim Religious Leaders and Zongo Chiefs to foster partnership in improving social cohesion, addressing security concerns and promoting peace and security in the country.
The Minister expressed concern over security issues including vigilantism, land guard activities and chieftaincy issues in some parts of the country which have led to the imposition of curfews in those areas.
He urged the good people of Ghana to use appropriate means to resolve any challenges they may confront otherwise the peace of this country could be jeopardized and it will affect all.
The Minister urged them to identify community-based initiatives that promote peace and social cohesion, such as interfaith dialogue, community outreach programs and cultural events.
He also urged the development of a collaborative programme to address the root cause of conflict and establish open channels of communication between communities, the Ministry of the Interior and other stakeholders.
He also noted the need to identify community needs and develop targeted interventions that promote social and economic development.
On recent issues about drug abuse by some youth in the country which poses a significant threat to the nation’s well-being, undermining the very fabric of the society, the Minister condemned the act and called on the religious leaders and Zongo Chiefs to help the government by educating the public and promote peace and social cohesion to reverse the negative trend for the good of Ghana.
Muntaka Mubarak thanked them for honouring his invitation and encouraged them to build systems and mechanisms that would turn the Zongo Communities into more peaceful places of settlement.
The Ameer of Ahmadiya Mission Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih appealed to the Minister and other key stakeholders to help improve education in the Zongo Communities, as the lack of schools accounts for the challenges in those areas.
The Muslim Leaders and the Zongo Chiefs commended the Minister for the meeting. They prayed for him and wished him Allah’s guidance and protection.
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SEND Ghana engage Gender Minister for strategic dialogue on social protection and gender equality
A delegation from SEND Ghana visited the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, to discuss collaboration on gender equality, social protection, and economic empowerment.
SEND Ghana, known for its policy advocacy and equitable development efforts, works closely with farmers and empowers young women aged 18–35 through Mastercard Foundation-supported projects focused on livelihood and agricultural support.
The Minister welcomed SEND Ghana’s initiatives and highlighted the Ministry’s alignment with their priorities.
She reaffirmed that social protection is a top priority under President John Mahama’s government and emphasized ongoing efforts to expand coverage and enhance service delivery through flagship programmes like Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), which remains vital for vulnerable households.
Regarding the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), the Minister noted plans to introduce legislation to ensure its sustainability and improve the nutritional quality of school meals.
She praised civil society’s role in monitoring local implementation.
The Minister also voiced strong support for menstrual hygiene and reproductive health campaigns, stressing education and access to sanitary products for adolescent girls, and encouraged efforts to break menstrual taboos and keep girls in school.
Broader gender issues discussed included reducing unpaid care work, promoting gender-sensitive leave policies (maternity and paternity leave), and boosting women’s economic opportunities.
Both parties agreed on the need to build gender-responsive systems that empower women socially and economically.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to work together for inclusive development, gender equity, and stronger social protection systems in Ghana.
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3-Day in-country capacity building workshop on Women, Peace and Security Reporting Frame Work held
In 2018, the African Union developed the Continental Results Framework (CRF) to track the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda across Africa.
To support this regional effort, ECOWAS introduced a simplified version of the CRF in 2022 to guide member states in implementation and reporting.
As part of a broader regional effort to build national capacity across member states, the ECOWAS Commission, through its Directorate for Humanitarian and Social Affairs (DHSA), and in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and the WPS Regional Steering Group—with technical and financial backing from the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance Project (EPSG), co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ—organized a three-day in-country capacity-building workshop in Ghana.
Held from June 10 to 12, 2025, the workshop was spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with the European Union, the German Embassy, and the ECOWAS Commission.
It aimed to enhance the technical capacity of national stakeholders and focal persons to systematically document, monitor, and report on WPS interventions, particularly in relation to Ghana’s National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (GHANAP II).
The training also focused on improving data accuracy, promoting inter-agency collaboration, and ensuring Ghana’s reporting processes align with the ECOWAS Simplified CRF.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Momo Lartey, the Director of the Department of Gender, Madam Faustina Acheampong, described the workshop as “timely and appropriate,” noting its significance in strengthening Ghana’s WPS reporting architecture.
She further stressed the importance of accurate data and coordinated efforts to meet the country’s regional reporting obligations.
She also underscored the critical role of women in peacebuilding, emphasizing the need to amplify women’s voices and ensure their full participation in peace processes to achieve lasting, inclusive peace in Ghana.
Representing the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Mr. Olatunde Olayemi reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to Ghana’s WPS agenda. He highlighted the disproportionate impact of insecurity on women and girls and praised Ghana’s ongoing efforts to advance inclusive peacebuilding as a cornerstone for sustainable development.
Daniel Messina, from the European Union Delegation to Ghana, acknowledged the role of the ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and Operations (EPSAO) Programme—funded by the EU and German Government—in promoting peace, security, and gender equity across the region.
Additionally, Pauline Okkens, Political Advisor at the German Embassy, reiterated her government’s continued support for the development and implementation of continental and regional frameworks on Women, Peace and Security.
