The ECOWAS Resident Representative to Liberia, Josephine Nkrumah, met with Liberia’s First Lady, Kartumu Y. Boakai, in Monrovia on January 16, 2026. The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration to promote the role of women and youth in peace, security, and political leadership.
Discussions addressed how Liberia’s position as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council could be used to advance regional priorities. Women and youth participation in peace and security were central themes during Liberia’s campaign for its Security Council seat. Both parties considered ways to align Liberia’s international efforts with ECOWAS regional policies to improve gender equality and increase youth involvement in politics.
A major topic was the upcoming Regional Consultation on Political Participation and Leadership of Women and Youth in West Africa, scheduled for February 10-14, 2026, in Accra, Ghana. This event is organized by the ECOWAS Gender Development Center and its partners as part of the Legacy Project/ECOWAS 50th Anniversary Commemorative Project on Gender Parity in Elected Bodies (2025-2035). The initiative aims to build on past achievements in democratic governance and establish a framework for equal opportunities for men and women in politics across West Africa.
One objective is to introduce a model law or guide that could be adopted by member states to support reforms promoting greater political participation by women and young people by 2035.
The First Lady has been invited to serve as a high-level advocate at the consultation. In this role, she will support policy changes, share Liberia’s experiences, and encourage political leaders across West Africa to back gender parity measures.
Josephine Nkrumah praised the First Lady’s contributions: “The First Lady’s commitment aligns perfectly with ECOWAS’s vision for an inclusive and peaceful region. Her advocacy at this critical Dialogue will be instrumental in turning the ideals of gender parity into a tangible reality for West Africa.”
First Lady Boakai thanked ECOWAS for the invitation and confirmed her continued support for these efforts.
The meeting ended with both parties agreeing to strengthen cooperation between the Office of the First Lady and ECOWAS Commission toward advancing peace, security, and gender equality throughout West Africa.
ECOWAS is a regional intergovernmental organization established in 1975 to promote cooperation among West African countries. It works on harmonizing policies across sectors such as trade, agriculture, and transport to foster economic growth and social stability. The organization also manages initiatives supporting free movement within member states (https://www.ecowas.int/category/news/).