By Stella Odueme
ECOWAS ministers responsible for youth, sports and development have called for stronger regional collaboration, increased youth involvement in governance and peacebuilding, and sustainable funding to advance the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Agenda across West Africa.
The call was made at a two-day ministerial consultation held in Accra, Ghana, from October 27 to 28, 2026.
The meeting, themed “Advancing Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa: Strengthening Regional Cooperation, Knowledge Sharing and Strategic Partnerships,” focused on strategies to accelerate the implementation of the regional YPS Agenda.
During the consultation, the ministers stressed the importance of improved coordination among ECOWAS member states and stronger strategic partnerships to achieve meaningful progress.
According to a statement on Saturday, they also called for adequate and sustainable funding, including dedicated allocations in national budgets, to ensure that commitments towards youth participation, peacebuilding and security translate into tangible results across the region.