The Foundation of Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) has expressed worry over lack of involvement by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for the implementation of second Ghana National Action Plan (GHANAP 2) on UNSCR 1325.
GHANAP 2 is the Global Resolution by the UN Security Council on Women, Peace and Security which acknowledges that women are mostly victimized when it comes to conflict.
It also touches on the role women play in peace building processes and makes room for an increased participation of women. Ghana has a National Plan that seeks to localize the UNSCR 1325 and this is the second plan Ghana has that is called GHANAP 2.
Speaking to journalists during a one-day high level stakeholders meeting organized by FOSDA on the implementation of the Ghana National Action Plan 2 on UN Security Resolution 1325, the Executive Director for FOSDA, Theodora W. Anti disclosed that GHANAP 1 was poorly implemented.
“But this time FOSDA as a CSO interested in Women Peace and Security has decided that we will not let that happen again. So we have taken on ourselves to monitor the implementation of this new NAP and make sure that it is implemented to the letter. We will also make sure whatever we want to achieve in that plan we are achieving it based on the four pillars of 1325,” the Executive Director for FOSDA stated.
She said FOSDA has interviewed about five state institutions, namely the National Peace Council, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ministry of Interior and MoGCSP as part of the monitoring agenda.
“From our findings a lot is being done but we are not doing so, much with the implementation. We are around 20 percent of the implementation of the Action Plan of 1325. That tells us that there is a long way to go. The plan expires in 2025 so if we don’t leapfrog and make extra efforts in implementing the Plan we are very likely to sing the same song we sang for the GHANAP 1.
“So far the key challenges we are sharing as usual is funding. We have also seen the lack of coordination and things like that. But we have also seen that the Ministry of Finance has not been really engaged in this process of implementing Ghana’s National Action Plan on 1325,” madam Anti stated.
She said the Ministry of Finance has to recognize that they have a role in pushing state agencies that have the responsibility implementing GHANAP 2 on women, peace and security in the country.
During the meeting FOSDA shared the monitoring report and discussed the findings from engagements with various institutions listed within Category A and B of the National Action Plan.
FOSDA also shared the report on the implementation so far for the first phase for discussion including lessons learnt, way forward and actions to take to execute the Action Plan.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the department of Gender from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Plan International Ghana, the Ministry of the Interior, Ghana Immigration Service.
Others are Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service, National Peace Council, the Ghana Armed Forces, a section of the Civil Society Organization among others.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
