The Department of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security (PAPS) of the ECOWAS Commission, in partnership with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), is conducting a 5-day Training Workshop for the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa (NNHRI-WA). ECOWAS Commission facilitated the establishment of the NNHRI-WA in accordance with the provision of Article 35(2) of the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance as part of its strategy to deepen the promotion and protection of human rights across the region.

The Training Workshop, which is taking place from 8-12 June 2026 in Accra, Ghana, is geared towards strengthening participants in understanding, analytical capacity, and practical competencies in international, African Union, and ECOWAS human rights systems, monitoring frameworks, reporting mechanisms, advocacy approaches, and protection responsibilities.Attended by representatives of National Human Rights Institutions from West Africa, the Training Workshop is also aimed at equipping participants to apply human rights approaches effectively within their respective professional and institutional contexts across the ECOWAS region.

Delivering the Opening Statement, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau MUSAH, PhD, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, represented by Mr Ebenezer ASIEDU, Head of Democracy and Good Governance, ECOWAS Commission, welcomed participants to the Workshop. He noted that the Workshop would contribute to enhancing collective responsibility to promote accountability, strengthen protection mechanisms, and advance human rights across the region. He further expressed ECOWAS Commission’s sincere appreciation to the KAIPTC for its continued partnership and support in making this programme possible. He also extended gratitude to the participants for honouring ECOWAS’ invitation and to facilitators for sharing their expertise and practical experience with participants during the Workshop.

Declaring the Training Workshop open, Air Vice Marshall David Anetey AKRONG, Commandant of KAIPTC, represented by Brigadier General Zibrim Bawah Ayorrogo, Deputy Commandant, KAIPTC, welcomed participants to Accra, Ghana and noted that their presence reflected a shared commitment to promoting and protecting human dignity across West Africa. He further noted the Training would explore key human rights issues affecting the region and examine practical approaches to addressing them. Through case-studies, simulations, discussions, and collaborative exercises, he stressed that participants would have the opportunity to learn from one another and strengthen their professional networks. He finally encouraged participants to engage fully, share experiences openly, challenge ideas constructively, and build relationships that will endure beyond the Workshop.

The training workshop is structured around five interrelated modules, namely, Human Rights and Climate/Environment; Human Rights and Technology/Artificial Intelligence; Human Rights

and Business; Human Rights and Migration; and International Humananitarian Law. Each module builds upon the previous, moving from foundational normative and institutional frameworks through thematic human rights challenges to practical operational competencies and integrated simulation.