At the heart of today’s forum on Conflict Prevention and Sustainable Peace in West Africa taking place in Accra is a trailblazing all-women panel set to challenge the status quo and spotlight the essential role of women in governance and peacebuilding.
This high-level session, “Amplifying Women’s Voices in Democratic and Political Transitions,” brings together accomplished leaders whose lived experiences and leadership journeys reflect the resilience, vision, and influence of women across the region.
Drawn from politics, the judiciary, civil society, and international diplomacy, these women are not just participants in the peace process—they are architects of change.
Each has carved a distinct path in navigating political transitions, resolving conflict, and pushing for gender-inclusive governance.
Together, they offer rare insight into the challenges women face in fragile democracies and conflict zones, while showcasing real-world examples of women-led peace initiatives that have transformed communities and institutions.
Ambassador Medina A. Wesseh, Former Secretary-General, Mano River Union
A highly focused individual who works effectively in teams, building socio political networks and dedicated to public service with a career in law and politics, with more than 30 years work in the cause of humanity generally through contributions toward the enhancement of women’s participation in the socio-economic development of society, politics, law, promotion of women leadership, strengthening of regional cooperation and integration, for peace, security and development the new Secretary General is committed to ensuring effective state collaboration and people’s participation within the MRU framework
Prior to taking up her career in the legal field, Mrs. Medina A. Wesseh worked in the Office of the President as the Director General of the Cabinet and as Executive Assistant to the President of Liberia. Managing Partners of the Internal Law Group and had worked as a communications strategist Specialist during the 2005 and 2011 elections in Liberia.
Development communication, Women in Politics, Gender mainstreaming, organizational management skills have been the path to a rich International Public Service background as she has worked within the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, (Ethiopia) USAID Liberia Transition Initiative, (Liberia USAID) the Open Society of West Africa,(Abidjan and Dakar) United Nations Fund for Women/UNHCR (UNIFEM-Sierra Leone) the Consultant Management Enterprise, (Ghana) the United Nations Development Program,(Liberia) Served as a Tokten Consultant her(Transfer of Knowledge through Expatriate Nationals) to the Liberia News Agency where actual career path in journalism begun. Served as Lecturer in communications Studies at both the state and faith based Universities on a pro bono basis since 2004 (schedule and time permitting)
Earlier she left active government service and went on to pursue Legal Studies in 2009 and entered the private sector with the International Law Group. The firm offers legal services to Government of Liberia and other high profile international clients including the Dangote Group in Liberia.
Aside from pursuing a career in law, there have been other senior executive leadership courses at Harvard and Howard Universities in the United States. Under graduate and post graduate studies were at the premier University of Ghana at Legon with core discipline in Political science and International Relations, and studies in all aspects of Mass Communications at the graduate level.
A Diploma in journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism. Workshops, international conferences, seminars in peace building and conflict resolution Gender studies with Akina Mama WA Africa in Entebbe Uganda and Harare Zimbabwe are amongst numerous studies to enrich her career growth.
Manty Tarawalli, Â Minister of State at the Office of the Vice President, Sierra Leone
Manty Tarawalli is a development expert and politician. She is also the author of the book – Over the Line (How Sierra Leone enacted the groundbreaking Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act).
Manty is the 2023 recipient of the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Medal for Outstanding Achievement and a 2024 Finalist of the Women Changing the World Awards organised by Sarah the Duchess of York.
Minister Manty is the current Minister of State at the Vice President’s Office. Hon. Manty Tarawalli was appointed to this role following four years as Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs where she led the development and enactment of the groundbreaking Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act 2022. The GEWE Act mandates the increase of women’s political participation and leadership opportunities through Affirmative Action. The Act also demands improved social protection for women through Gender Mainstreaming and Gender Responsive Budgeting.
In the ongoing implemention of the GEWE Act, Sierra Leone’s 6th Parliament saw the largest Caucus of Women MPs ever: 41 out of 135 Ordinary Members and in the Executive an unprecedented 10 Ministers and 11 Deputy Ministers representing over 30%. Furthermore, through the national Gender Mainstreaming Programme that Manty initiated, women in Sierra Leone can now own and inherit land anywhere in the country without any restrictions.
In her current role as the Principal Assistant to the Vice President, her portfolio comprises the supervision of national inter-ministerial, multi-sectoral programmes delivered under the Office of the Vice President. These include: The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Project, Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI) etc. Her role also requires global representation and engagements on national development.
Hon Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ghana
Agnes Naa Momo Lartey was born on 16 April 1976 in Krowor, Greater Accra Region. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey is a distinguished politician and advocate for social justice, best known for her grassroots mobilisation and commitment to championing women’s and children’s rights.
Naa Momo began her political career in 2000, serving as an assemblywoman and later as the presiding member of the Krowor Municipal Assembly.
In 2016, she contested the parliamentary seat for Krowor on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) but lost to Elizabeth Afoley Quaye of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
She has been a Member of Parliament since 2021, where her focus has included initiatives to empower women, improve access to quality education, and support vulnerable groups.
Beyond her parliamentary duties, Lartey has held significant leadership positions, including being the General Secretary of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG).
As General Secretary of NALAG, Lartey was responsible for providing strategic leadership to local government authorities across the country.
Her role involved coordinating activities among local assemblies, advocating for decentralization, and fostering collaboration to enhance service delivery at the community level. Through this, she became a key figure in championing policies that improve local governance and uplift underrepresented communities.
She also holds a Ph.D. in African Studies, demonstrating a strong commitment to scholarly pursuits that inform her work in policymaking and advocacy.
As the Executive Director of the Global Initiative on Rights & Development (GIRD), she has driven grassroots empowerment programs and advanced women’s rights initiatives.
At GIRD, Lartey played a pivotal role in promoting sustainable development by focusing on human rights advocacy and capacity building. Her leadership in this role included designing and implementing projects aimed at empowering women economically and socially, as well as addressing systemic inequalities.
Her Ladyship Justice Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Supreme Court Judge, Republic of Ghana
Justice Professor Henrietta Joy Abena Nyarko Mensa-Bonsu, is a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana. Before her appointment to the Bench in May 2020, she was a Professor of Law at the University of Ghana School of Law, and served as Director of the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD)(2012-2018), being the first female to do so. She is a Past President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, having been elected to Fellowship in 2003..
She has had a distinguished academic career spanning more than three decades at the University of Ghana since joining the University of Ghana as a Lecturer in 1985. She rose through the ranks to attain the rank of Professor of Law in 2002. Justice Professor Mensa-Bonsu has researched and published extensively on Criminal Law and Criminal Justice (particularly Juvenile Justice), Family Law; Children’s Rights; and International Affairs. She has also served on a large number of academic Committees of the University of Ghana, as well chairing many Committees of Enquiry at the University of Ghana. She has served on the Hall Councils of Volta Hall and Akuafo Hall and was the first female Senior Tutor of Akuafo Hall. At the time of her separation from the University of Ghana, in 2020, she was an Assessor for the Humanities at the College of Humanities; Member of the Appointments and Promotions Committee of the College of Humanities and Alternate Assessor for the Appointments Board of the University.
She has undertaken a number of high level national and international assignments. Her national assignments include membership of the National Reconciliation Commission (2002-2004); Police Council; and the Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission of Inquiry into Electoral violence (2019). In 2017, she was Ghana’s candidate for a seat on the International Criminal Court. She has served on a number of Boards of Corporations, both public and private, such as the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and New Times Corporation; and was a non-executive Director of Standard Chartered Bank.
Among the high profile international assignments she has undertaken are: the OAU’s Committee of Eminent Jurists on the Lockerbie Case; (2001-2002); and the AU’s Committee of Eminent Jurists on the Hissene Habre Case (2006). In 2007-2011, she was appointed the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Rule of Law (DSRSG RoL) in the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) with the rank of Assistant-Secretary-General. For four years, she had the privilege of leading the United Nations family on efforts to reconstruct the Rule of Law sector of post-conflict Liberia. In 2015, she was appointed by the UN Secretary-General to the High Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (HIPPO).
She has, since 2012, served as a Civilian Mentor to the ECOWAS Senior Mission Leadership Courses; United Nations’ Senior Mission Leadership Courses; and the UN Police Commanders Courses, all of which prepare principal leaders of peacekeeping missions for service in the field, as well as a number of UNSOC courses at KAIPTC until 2020. She has also presented a number of papers at conferences focusing on UN Peace Operations, in Geneva, Montreal, Berlin and Addis Ababa.
She is the chairperson of the Independent Examinations Committee of the General Legal Council; Chairperson of the Council of the Methodist University; member of the Board of Trustees of Methodist Church, Ghana and an outgoing member of the Advisory Board of the Division of Peace of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Professor Mensa-Bonsu has been a Visiting Lecturer at a number of reputable Universities in Europe and North America and was the 2014 Diplomat-in-Residence at the School of Public and International Affairs of the North Carolina State University. She was the University of Ghana Alumni Association Lecturer for 2014; the S.H., Amissah Lectures of the Lay Movement of Methodist Church, Ghana in 2013; and the 75th Anniversary Aggrey-Fraser Guggisberg Memorial Lectures of University of Ghana, Legon, 2023.
Justice Prof Mensa-Bonsu has earned a number of academic awards including MaCallien Prize for Best Graduating Student in Volta Hall (1980) McDougal Fellowship (Yale 1984); Junior Fulbright Fellowship (1991); and ACU/UNITWIN Fellowship for Women (1995). Her non-academic awards and citations include: University of Ghana Award for Meritorious Service (joint recipient 1999); the Association of Lions Clubs International Presidents’ Excellence Award (1998) Ghana Women of Excellence Awards 2019; West African Peace Fellow, WANEP, 2019; and NUGS Prestige Award for Peace, Advocacy, Academic Excellence & Institutional Advancement. (2019).
Justice Prof Mensa-Bonsu was educated at Wesley Girls High School; University of Ghana where she was one of the first two women to graduate with First Class in Law (LL.B); and Yale University, USA where she read for a Master of Laws s Degree (LLM) and was called to the Ghana Bar in 1982. She was awarded a Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) by the University of Ghana in 2023.