ECOWAS Urges Ministers to Drive ‘Legacy Project’ for Inclusive Governance
The Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission has urged ministers of member states to take ownership of the bloc’s flagship Legacy Project, describing it as a transformative initiative designed to deepen political inclusion across West Africa.
Launched as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the project places women and young people at the centre of national development. It links inclusive governance to employment creation, democratic legitimacy, stability and long-term prosperity.
Madam Tchintchibidja made the call in Accra at a Ministerial Meeting held alongside the regional consultation on Political Participation and Leadership of Women and Young People in West Africa. The four-day event, which ended on Friday, February 20, convened key stakeholders for dialogue and high-level advocacy.
She emphasised that the Legacy Project was not merely a regional programme but a framework that must be shaped and driven by national leadership.
“You are not mere stakeholders – you are its architects,” she said, stressing that the instruments developed under the initiative were designed to reinforce, not replace, national ownership.
The Vice-President noted that the project comes at a pivotal moment as ECOWAS reflects on five decades of progress and challenges while charting a more decisive path for the future. She added that the initiative would strengthen national reform efforts by providing collective political leverage.
Madam Tchintchibidja called on leaders to invest in durable institutions and inclusive leadership that reflect the diversity of West African societies.
“History will remember this generation of leaders not for what we said, but for what we enabled,” she stated.
Dr Isata Mahoi, Chairperson of ECOWAS Ministers Responsible for Gender, said the continued exclusion of women and young people from decision-making weakens democracy and slows development.
“Their exclusion is not only a democratic deficit but a missed opportunity for transformation,” she said, urging ministers to dismantle structural barriers and amplify the voices of women and youth as architects of the region’s democratic future.
Mr Ruben K. D. Johnson, Senior Advisor to the Vice-President of the Commission, stressed that meaningful political and economic participation cannot be achieved without women and young people. He expressed concern over persistently low political representation of women despite existing legal frameworks.
Mrs Sandra Oulaté Fattoh, Director of the ECOWAS Centre for Gender Development, called for binding legislative measures to strengthen women’s leadership and improve the region’s gender index. She added that young people must be recognised not only as election mobilisers but as governance actors, with leadership capacity strengthened through networks and mentoring initiatives.
She urged innovative, consensus-driven approaches to advance women’s participation in line with ECOWAS Vision 2050: “An ECOWAS of the Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All.”
Ghana’s Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, said the country is repositioning young people as active partners in governance. She noted that government is addressing structural, institutional, financial and socio-cultural barriers that limit the participation of women and youth, reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to gender equality and youth empowerment in line with regional and international frameworks.
— GNA