Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba, has made a passionate call for greater recognition and empowerment of women as pivotal agents of peace and democratic development across West Africa.
Addressing a diverse audience at the Conflict Prevention and Sustainable Peace Forum held at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra on May 28, 2025, High Commissioner Kaisamba spotlighted the underappreciated but transformative roles women have played in both Sierra Leone and Ghana.
“Women are not the silent background of our histories; they are the very foundation upon which peace and progress are built,” he declared.
Recounting Sierra Leone’s painful civil war, Kaisamba saluted the courage of women who risked their lives to mediate ceasefires, bury the dead, and care for the wounded—often without formal recognition. He referred to them as the “unsung architects of reconciliation” whose efforts helped to reweave the torn fabric of society.
He noted that Sierra Leone has since institutionalised gender equity in its governance structures, learning from the conflict that sustainable peace cannot exist where half the population is marginalised.
Turning to Ghana, the High Commissioner praised the prominent and growing influence of women in democratic governance. He celebrated Ghanaian women as not just participants but leaders—shaping legislation, guiding civil society, and playing essential roles in political stability and national dialogue.
“From parliament to the peace table, Ghanaian women are inspiring a regional movement for inclusive leadership,” he said.
The 2025 Conflict Prevention and Sustainable Peace Forum, themed “Amplifying Women’s Voices in Democratic and Political Transitions,” brought together representatives from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Australia. Organised by the Australian High Commission in partnership with key regional actors including WANEP and WADEMOS, the forum served as a platform to strengthen the visibility, participation, and impact of women in West African peacebuilding and governance.
