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As Ghana gears up to host the official launch of the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President John Dramani Mahama is extending a hand of reconciliation to the region’s most controversial players — the military juntas of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
At a press briefing on Thursday, April 17, 2025, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that the leaders of the three Sahelian nations have been invited to attend the commemorative event in Accra. “The invitation to the Heads of State from the Sahel bloc is a step towards building bridges and collaborating to strengthen the West African sub‑region,” he said, underscoring Ghana’s commitment to unity even in times of division.
The decision is a bold gesture following the formal withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS on January 29, 2025. The trio, now aligned as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), completed the required one-year notice to exit the regional body, raising concerns over the bloc’s cohesion and future.
But Ghana, known for its leadership in diplomacy and Pan-Africanism, is using this milestone celebration to remind the region of its shared roots and collective destiny.
The ECOWAS@50 launch is scheduled for April 22, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre. The ceremony is expected to draw high-profile guests, including the ECOWAS Authority Chairman and President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the President of the ECOWAS Commission; several Heads of State and Government from across the region; and representatives of international development and diplomatic partners.
President Mahama will serve as the official host, and the occasion will mark the unveiling of the 50th-anniversary logo along with the announcement of the theme that will guide a year-long celebration across all member states.
Ablakwa highlighted Ghana’s selection as host as a tribute to its longstanding role in promoting regional integration and peace. “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,” he urged.
Following the launch, Ghana will also host an Extraordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers on April 22 and 23. This meeting will gather foreign and finance ministers to address pressing matters — particularly the implications of the Sahel countries’ exit and the road ahead for ECOWAS. A comprehensive report will be prepared and submitted to the Heads of State for review.
Reflecting on ECOWAS’s legacy, Ablakwa pointed to decades of progress in trade, mobility, infrastructure, and peacekeeping. He praised programs such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the Brown Card Insurance Scheme, and major initiatives like the West African Power Pool and the Abidjan‑Lagos Corridor.
But for him, the heart of the celebration lies not just in policy but in people. “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, reminding all that integration only matters when it transforms lives.
To ensure a seamless event, a national Planning Committee, chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been set up to coordinate efforts with the ECOWAS Commission and other partners. While ECOWAS is covering most of the expenses, Ghana has pledged full logistical and security support.
“This Jubilee is not just a commemoration — it is a call to action,” Ablakwa said passionately. “We must use this occasion to rekindle hope in the ECOWAS vision and chart a bold course for the next 50 years.”
As the region looks toward Ghana, the country stands ready to lead with vision, humility, and purpose — reaffirming its place at the heart of West Africa’s journey.
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