ECOWAS Female Caucus Seeks Proportional Representation in Top Positions

The ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) has called for stronger female representation in high-level decision-making positions to better advocate for issues affecting women and children.

Hon. Veronica Kaddy Sise, outgoing President of ECOFEPA, made the call on Thursday on the sidelines of the First Extraordinary Session of the Regional Parliament.

While noting that significant progress has been made, she pushed for greater female participation in leadership roles and called for improved gender-friendly laws and initiatives that empower women and children.

These, she said, include securing the election of more female Speakers of the ECOWAS Parliament, following the historic election of the first-ever female Speaker, Rt. Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, during the Second Extraordinary Session of the Sixth Legislature in Kano, Nigeria. She remains the only woman to have held the position so far.

She also reported that ECOFEPA, under her tenure, intensified advocacy for the 30 percent threshold for women’s representation in parliament, reflecting the growing presence of women in legislative bodies.

Presenting the association’s activity report, Hon. Maimuna Ceesay, Secretary-General of the outgoing executive, highlighted positive outcomes from its two-day regional summit held in Sierra Leone in early February.

She noted that the meeting, held under the theme “The Integration of Young Voices in Governance to Boost Integration and Justice in Decision-Making,” empowered women and young people to take on leadership roles.

Members lauded the outgoing executive for the strides achieved during its tenure and called for additional initiatives to strengthen the association’s visibility and forge strategic partnerships.