The National Peace Council (NPC), established by an Act of Parliament (Act 818, 2011), is mandated to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts while building sustainable peace in Ghana. The NPC plays a vital role in promoting peace through facilitating mechanisms for conflict prevention, management, and resolution.
Ensuring gender representativeness within the National Peace Council is crucial, as it allows for the inclusion of diverse perspectives and expertise from both women and men. This diversity strengthens peacebuilding processes. Women play critical roles as negotiators, mediators, and facilitators of reconciliation at the local level. They also advocate for gender-responsive peacebuilding mechanisms that address human rights and justice.
Evidence has shown that peace negotiations involving women’s participation are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years (UN Women, 2018). Additionally, women’s involvement in peace processes correlates with improved post-conflict economic and social outcomes (World Bank, 2011). Women-led peace committees have also significantly contributed to post-conflict recovery in Liberia (Oxfam, 2017).
Composition of the Reconstituted NPC
Against this backdrop, STAR-Ghana Foundation makes the following observations and recommendations regarding the composition of the newly reconstituted National Peace Council:
- Gender Imbalance: The membership of the newly reconstituted Council includes only three women, representing 23% of the total membership of 13. This falls short of the minimum 30% gender representation mandated by the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024.
- Lack of Progress: While commendable progress has been achieved in achieving gender balance within the presidency and the Council of State, similar progress has not been reflected in the National Peace Council – a critical institution for national stability and security.
- International Commitments: This gender imbalance not only marginalizes women’s voices in governance but also undermines Ghana’s commitments to international frameworks such as UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which emphasizes the need for women’s meaningful participation in peace and security processes.
- Current Status: Although the number of women on the NPC is the highest since its establishment, it still falls short of the threshold established under the Affirmative Action Act and international guidelines. The underrepresentation of women hampers inclusive decision-making and weakens the effectiveness of peacebuilding initiatives.
Eunice Racheal Agbenyadzi, Head of Programmes at STAR-Ghana Foundation
Call to Action
The constitution of Regional Peace Councils presents an opportunity for the government to demonstrate its commitment to gender-responsive and inclusive peacebuilding. As the National Peace Council embarks on constituting Regional Peace Councils (RPCs) across the country, STAR-Ghana Foundation recommends the following actions:
- Ensure 30% Minimum Gender Representation: Deliberate efforts must be made to meet the minimum threshold of 30% women’s representation in public governance.
- Youth Representation: Given the role of youth in conflicts and in the demographic make-up of the country, it is imperative that youth voices are also adequately represented in both the NPC and RPCs.
- Inclusive Peacebuilding: Women and youth must be actively involved in conflict prevention and resolution processes at the regional level. This approach aligns with national policy commitments and international frameworks, such as UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
By integrating women and youth into the regional peace architecture, the Council will enhance its effectiveness in fostering more inclusive peacebuilding efforts. The time to act is now – Ghana cannot afford to build peace with half its population left behind.
