The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) under their “Monitoring GHANAP 2” Project, has trained 21 Gender Focal Persons of the Ghana Army. This two-day training was from 18th to 19th June, 2024 at the City Escape Hotel in Prampram and was under the theme, “Achieving the Women, Peace and Security Agenda through Gender Focal Persons in the Ghana Army”.
On Tuesday, 18th June 2024 an opening ceremony set the tone for the 2-day workshop. During the opening, the Ms. Susana Batesimah, FOSDA Admin. And Finance Manager (Ag), stated that the goal of the 2-day workshop was to ensure that all Gender Focal Persons trained had improved their knowledge and their awareness of the Women Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and other gender equality concepts for effective gender mainstreaming in the army.
The Monitoring GHANAP 2 Project, sponsored by Global Affairs Canada aims to monitor the implementation of the Ghana National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 and to ensure that all stakeholders work towards the overall goal of building safe and inclusive societies for all including women and girls. FOSDA started the monitoring GHANAP 2 project in 2023.
During this phase, they interviewed 6 institutions (MoGCSP, the MINTER, the National Peace Council, the Ghana Prisons Service, The Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Immigration Service) within the period of 6 months and came out with an analysis that the GHANAP 2 had reached about 20% of implementation in the 3 years it had existed. It was therefore very necessary to keep encouraging all stakeholders to intentionally and actively implement GHANAP 2, especially mitigating the main challenge of financing.
Mrs. Horname Noagbesenu, Director of PPMED at the KAIPTC, in her solidarity remark, mentioned that the Centre was pleased to work with FOSDA on this activity as it was in line with an objective in the Centre’s New Strategic Plan (2024 -2028) to enhance gender equity and social inclusion with a focus on women and youth in fostering peace, stability, and development in Africa. She also mentioned that the KAIPTC since 2019 had supported the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in its gender mainstreaming process and commended the leadership of GAF for their unwavering commitment to advancing gender mainstreaming.
Gender Adviser to the Ghana Army, Col. Rahinatu Sledge Alando, on behalf of the chief of Army staff pledged the Army’s unwavering support for the capacity building of Gender Focal Persons. In her remarks, she expressed her happiness in being part of a workshop like this especially to promote gender mainstreaming in all army commands, brigades and units. According to her, the Ghana Army is committed to attaining the UN resolution 1325 and the sustainable development goal 5. Her remarks were backed by Col. Mohammed Wumbei, a representative from the GAF who stated that the GAF in efforts to mainstream gender had revised regulations and CSIPs and had also launched their Gender Policy. He particularly urged the GAF to encourage and enforce gender equality regardless of very realistic challenges they may face.
Mr. Isaac Mensah who spoke on behalf of Ms. Faustina Acheampong, the Director of the Department of Gender stated that Ghana committed to the sustainable development goals should make a difference in attaining gender balance for sustainable development.
According to him, the principles of equality, non-discrimination and fair distribution of the benefits of development should be the country’s focus to enhance peace and security.
On behalf of the Executive Director, Ms. Batesimah, acknowledged the partnerships of the Ghana Army and KAIPTC, mentioning that as part of FOSDA’s commitment to promoting GHANAP 2, they had worked effortlessly with both institutions to train the Gender Focal Persons.
This training is a timely activity as most of the GFPs are newly appointed. It also comes at a time where in the last decade worldwide, Gender Focal Officers, have become an increasingly common feature of armed forces, peace operations, and other humanitarian engagements.
This according to Ms. Tyler Hague plays a pivotal role in facilitating the implementation of the UN WPS Agenda and gender mainstreaming efforts in security institutions, peace operations and other deployments. Ms. Hague who works as the Senior Programme Officer for the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations at Global Affairs Canada, addressed participants of the opening Ceremony as the Keynote speaker of the event.
She stated that as part of Canada’s commitment to its bilateral partnership with Ghana, to advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda more broadly, Canada is proud to support FOSDA in monitoring the implementation of the Second Ghana National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security and the training of Gender Focal Persons.
Her concluding remarks echoed the sentiments of all present that the wealth of expertise, experience, and commitment to the WPS agenda among many of the stakeholders present at the opening ceremony provides a strong foundation to enhance the work of the Gender Focal Persons to be trained in facilitating the implementation of the Second Ghana National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security (GHANAP 2).
Source: FOSDA
