Mahama invites Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Leaders to ECOWAS@50 Launch
ACCRA, April 17, 2025 — President John Dramani Mahama has extended invitations to the military juntas of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to attend the official launch of ECOWAS@50 in Accra, in a diplomatic overture aimed at mending regional divides and fostering renewed collaboration across West Africa.
The historic launch, scheduled for April 22, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre, will kick off a year-long celebration marking 50 years since the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on May 28, 1975.
At a press briefing, Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the invitations signal a desire to build bridges with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), despite their recent withdrawal from ECOWAS.
“While the withdrawal of the AES nations presents a challenge to our cohesion, ECOWAS must respond with enhanced diplomacy and unwavering commitment to the vision of a united and prosperous West Africa,” the Minister affirmed.
A Symbolic Milestone for Ghana and ECOWAS
Ghana’s selection as host is being widely praised as a fitting tribute to its long-standing contributions to Pan-Africanism, regional integration, and diplomacy. President Mahama will serve as the official host of the event, alongside regional leaders and dignitaries including:
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ECOWAS Chair and Nigerian Head of State
- President of the ECOWAS Commission
- Heads of State and Government from across the region
- Representatives of international organisations and partner institutions
Launch Highlights and Regional Dialogue
The launch will feature the unveiling of the ECOWAS 50th Anniversary logo, the official theme of the jubilee, and a call to action to deepen the bloc’s commitment to peace, unity, and development.
Following the launch, Ghana will host an Extraordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers from April 22–23, where foreign and finance ministers will discuss pressing regional concerns — particularly the implications of the AES bloc’s withdrawal.
A comprehensive report from the meeting will inform decisions at the level of Heads of State and Government.
Celebrating Legacy, Embracing the Future
Minister Ablakwa lauded ECOWAS’s achievements in trade, mobility, energy, insurance, and peacekeeping, citing landmark initiatives like:
- ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme
- ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme
- West African Power Pool
- Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Project
“It is about the entrepreneur in Accra and Abidjan, the student in Lagos and Dakar, the peacekeeper in Banjul and Bissau — it is about people,” Ablakwa said, stressing the human-centered spirit of regional integration.
Ghana’s Commitment
Ghana has constituted a Planning Committee led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working in close collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission and other stakeholders. While ECOWAS is expected to bear the bulk of the costs, Ghana is offering full logistical and security support to ensure a smooth celebration.
“This Jubilee is not just a commemoration — it is a call to action. We must use this occasion to rekindle hope in the ECOWAS vision and chart a bold course for the next 50 years,” the Minister concluded.
With ECOWAS@50 set to spotlight Ghana, the nation stands ready to lead the region forward — with diplomacy, unity, and a renewed sense of purpose.
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