The African Solutons Journal (AfSol Journal)

Gendered Dimensions of Reparations: Addressing the Harm of Wartime Sexual Violence Through African Feminist Policy Lenses

Comfort Fatimoh Sheidu — 2026-02-21

Given various peace agreements and transitional justice programmes, the gendered aspects of reparations are frequently overlooked, resulting in inadequate retribution for survivors, the majority of whom are women and girls. The paper investigates how African feminist policy ideas might influence reparations frameworks that are both inclusive and transformational. The paper assesses the feasibility of gender-sensitive reparations programmes using empirical evidence from post-conflict settings such as Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda, highlighting key actions such as establishing survivor-centered reparations funds, incorporating psychosocial care into national health services, and ensuring women's participation in reparations design and monitoring. The paper argues that by focusing on survivors' perspectives and feminist ideals of justice, reparations can serve as both a healing tool and a catalyst for gender-equitable peacebuilding and development on the continent. Finally, the paper contends that reparations must go beyond symbolic gestures and offer survivors with material, psychological, and socioeconomic assistance that truly restores their dignity, agency, and opportunity.

Maritime Security in Ghana’s Blue Economy: Exploring Socio-Economic Realities and Governance

Elsie Amelia Tachie-Menson — 2026-02-21

Ghana’s maritime security is considered within a broader context of coastal livelihoods, economic vulnerabilities, and environmental factors. The article examines how socio-economic structures and local realities interact to shape both the risks and opportunities in Ghana’s maritime security landscape. Drawing on an extensive review of academic literature, policy reports, industry analyses, as well as relevant statistical data and primary field data, the article interrogates the interplay among economic activities in the various sectors of Ghana’s blue economy with a focus on the fisheries sector. It examines how factors like youth unemployment and gender inequalities influence security outcomes, particularly with challenges such as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and resource-based conflicts. The study highlights how regulatory frameworks and foreign investment strategies intersect with local priorities, oftentimes generating tension over environmental sustainability and social justice. By mapping these socio-economic dynamics across local, national, and regional levels, the paper advances a nuanced and holistic understanding of Ghana’s maritime security environment, advocating for a Blue Justice approach.