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President John Dramani Mahama has extended an olive branch to the military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, inviting them to attend the official launch of the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS in Accra on April 22, 2025.
Announcing the development at a press briefing on Thursday, April 17, Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the move reflects Ghana’s commitment to diplomacy, dialogue, and regional unity.
“The invitation to the Sahel bloc is a step towards building bridges and fostering collaboration to strengthen the West African sub-region,” Ablakwa stated.
A Historic Milestone
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), established on May 28, 1975, will commemorate five decades of regional integration and cooperation. Ghana was selected to host the official launch event at the Accra International Conference Centre, a nod to its pivotal role in Pan-Africanism and regional leadership.
The event will be graced by prominent figures, including:
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority and President of Nigeria
Heads of State and Government from ECOWAS member states
The President of the ECOWAS Commission
Regional and international development partners
The occasion will also see the unveiling of the official ECOWAS@50 logo and the declaration of the anniversary theme, setting the tone for a year-long celebration across all 15 member states.
Diplomacy Amidst Division
The gathering comes at a critical time, as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have withdrawn from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Their decision will be a major discussion point during the Extraordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, also scheduled for April 22–23 in Accra.
Ablakwa stressed the importance of diplomacy over division:
“While the AES withdrawal 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.”
A comprehensive report from the ministerial meetings will be presented to ECOWAS Heads of State for further action.
Celebrating ECOWAS’s Human and Economic Impact
Minister Ablakwa praised ECOWAS’s enduring legacy, citing achievements in:
Regional trade through the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme
Free movement of people
Peacekeeping and conflict resolution
Infrastructure projects like the West African Power Pool and Abidjan–Lagos Corridor
“This Jubilee is not just about the past — it’s about the entrepreneur in Accra and Abidjan, the student in Lagos and Dakar, the peacekeeper in Banjul and Bissau. It’s about people,” he said.
Ghana Poised to Lead
A national Planning Committee, chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is coordinating with the ECOWAS Commission and key stakeholders. While ECOWAS will bear most of the event’s financial burden, Ghana has pledged full logistical and security support.
“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,” Ablakwa concluded.
As regional attention turns to Accra, Ghana is set to reaffirm its leadership in shaping the future of West Africa through unity, purpose, and visionary diplomacy.
