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The coup leaders, General Abdourahmane Tchiani of Niger, Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, and Colonel Assimi Goita of Mali, broke away from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) last year.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, hinted that President John Dramani Mahama had invited the military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to attend the official launch of the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Accra.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, the launch ceremony will be graced by key dignitaries including the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of Nigeria; the President of the ECOWAS Commission; Heads of State and Government from member countries; and representatives of regional and international partner organisations.
The ceremony will be officially hosted by the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama.
ECOWAS will reveal its 50th anniversary logo and announce the Jubilee Celebrations’ official theme as part of the launch.
Additionally, the launch will serve as the catalyst for a year-long series of celebrations in each of the member states.
Following the launch, on April 22 and 23, Ghana will host an Extraordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers. At this meeting, member states’ finance and foreign ministers will discuss urgent regional issues, such as the recent split of the bloc into the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The heads of state of ECOWAS will review a thorough report that has been prepared.
“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 stated.
Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa highlighted ECOWAS’s accomplishments in regional trade, population mobility, infrastructure development, and peacekeeping operations as part of his celebration of the organization’s legacy over the previous fifty years.
He cited significant projects like the Abidjan Lagos Corridor and the West African Power Pool, as well as effective programs like the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme and the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, as instances of significant advancement.
He also noted the importance of celebrating the human impact of regional integration: “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,” he said.
To ensure a successful celebration, Ghana has formed a Planning Committee chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is working closely with the ECOWAS Commission and other stakeholders.
While ECOWAS will bear most of the financial cost, Ghana is committed to providing 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,” he added.
Ghana will host the official launch of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on April 22, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The event marks a significant milestone for the West African regional bloc, which was founded on May 28, 1975, and Ghana’s selection as host is being hailed as a well-deserved recognition of the country’s historical leadership in Pan Africanism, regional integration, and diplomacy.
With West Africa looking to Ghana, the country is poised to lead the ECOWAS@50 celebration with pride, unity, and purpose.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
