Ministers from ECOWAS member states have called for sweeping electoral reforms, stronger legal frameworks and increased financing to enhance women’s political participation across West Africa, insisting that the region must move beyond commitments to concrete action on gender parity.
The call was made on Friday at a ministerial press briefing during the West Africa Women’s Political Leadership Forum in Abuja, where ministers and regional leaders outlined measures to implement the ECOWAS Declaration on Women’s Political Participation and Leadership and remove barriers preventing women from seeking and holding elective office.
Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said the forum was designed to transform longstanding commitments into measurable action across the region.
ALSO READ: My marriage began to fall apart after my mother-in-law confronted me for daring to get pregnant — Wife
“The issues of equality and parity are no longer about emotions or advocacy alone. They are about national development and economic empowerment,” she said.
According to the minister, the Abuja Action Agenda focuses on translating political commitments into national and regional actions by promoting sustainable financing for women seeking political office, eliminating violence against women in politics, strengthening women’s leadership during democratic transitions and ensuring young women are not excluded from political participation.
She said Nigeria’s ongoing reforms align with those objectives through institutional strengthening, women’s economic empowerment and governance reforms.
“We cannot achieve sustainable development while women remain excluded from the decisions that shape public investment, policy, social protection, peace and security, and the delivery of services to families and communities,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said.
She disclosed that the proposed reserved seats bill is undergoing a comprehensive review as part of broader electoral reforms aimed at making Nigeria’s political system more inclusive.
“We are still debating the most suitable framework for Nigeria that will give our democratic system the necessary boost and enable more women to compete on a level playing field,” she said.
The minister said the forum was also building cross-party solidarity among women leaders across Africa.
“No woman should enter political life alone. Women’s political leadership is not simply a gender issue; it is fundamental to strengthening democracy, improving governance and ensuring that our countries benefit from the talents and capabilities of all citizens,” she added.
Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mme Damtien Tchintchibidja, said the recently adopted ECOWAS declaration must lead to concrete reforms in member states rather than remain a symbolic document.
“It is important that this does not become another declaration that is signed and forgotten. Member states must understand its implications and begin implementing the necessary legal and policy reforms,” she said.
She explained that although ECOWAS cannot legislate for sovereign states, the regional bloc would continue to guide implementation, mobilise development partners and monitor progress across member countries.
“We need mechanisms to measure success, establish peer-learning systems and enable countries to learn from one another while adapting best practices to their national realities,” Tchintchibidja said.
She also urged governments to allocate dedicated funding to programmes promoting women’s political leadership.
“Women make up more than half of our population. They deserve equal opportunities to participate in leadership and decision-making,” she added.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, said her country’s progress had been driven by strong legislation and effective implementation.
She noted that Sierra Leone had achieved about 30 per cent female representation through the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act and electoral reforms requiring greater inclusion of women.
“For us, the laws, their implementation and enforcement are critical. But we must also ensure that the political landscape itself becomes more conducive for women,” Mahoi said.
She said Sierra Leone had established a network bringing together women ministers and politicians across party lines to advance common interests.
“We promote cross-party collaboration because the women’s agenda is bigger than political parties,” she said.
Mahoi also advocated greater investment in girls’ education, mentorship programmes, gender-sensitive political parties and support for women who lose elections to prepare them for future contests.
Liberia’s Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Gbeme Horace-Kollie, identified campaign financing as one of the biggest obstacles facing women in politics.
She called for electoral reforms requiring political parties to dedicate a percentage of campaign resources to female candidates.
“The distribution of political party financing has traditionally favoured men. Electoral reforms should ensure women are included in the allocation of campaign resources,” she said.
Horace-Kollie also advocated lower nomination fees for women and dedicated funding mechanisms to reduce the financial burden of contesting elections.
“We have capable women, but financing remains one of the biggest barriers. Reducing the cost of participation and providing targeted support will encourage more women to contest,” she said.
Co-Convener of the African Women Leaders Network, Mme Bineta Diop, said women’s political advancement required a strong ecosystem involving governments, legislatures, political parties, civil society and regional organisations.
“We cannot transform women’s political leadership by working in silos. We need an ecosystem built on solidarity, accountability and strong institutions,” she said.
Diop cited the African Union’s gender parity principle as an example of how political commitment can be translated into national reforms.
“Countries that have endorsed regional and continental commitments must now build the institutions and accountability mechanisms necessary to implement them,” she added.
Senator Dr. Chantal Moussokoura Fanny of Côte d’Ivoire said the ECOWAS declaration would only succeed if governments moved beyond signing agreements to enforcing them.
“A signature alone is not enough. Ministers of Justice, Finance and other key ministries must work alongside Ministers of Gender to ensure these commitments are fully implemented,” she said.
She noted that many countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, were yet to attain the 30 per cent benchmark for women’s representation in public institutions.
“We must first achieve the 30 per cent quota before speaking about full parity,” she said.
Fanny also described mentorship as indispensable to sustaining women’s political leadership.
“Mentorship is not charity; it is a responsibility. Every woman who has attained leadership has a duty to prepare and inspire the next generation. If we fail to do that, our struggle will have been in vain,” she said.