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President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to position Ghana as the bridge that will enhance unity across the ECOWAS sub-region.
He explained that the founding fathers of ECOWAS chose cooperation over rivalry, which has enabled the community to develop into a vital diplomatic force on the continent.
Launching the 50th anniversary of the sub-regional bloc in Accra yesterday, the President said that as a result, member states needed to safeguard and strengthen the bloc’s legacy of engagement, dialogue and mediation, especially in the face of emerging challenges such as violent extremism and political instability.
"Ghana stands ready to serve as a bridge to strengthen West African unity," he said, stressing the importance of ongoing diplomatic efforts within the sub-region.
He added that Ghana would continue to prioritise diplomatic re-engagement with its neighbours, and that it had taken the effort to appoint a special envoy to initiate high-level conversations with the Alliance of Sahel States, made up of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, who quit the ECOWAS fraternity to form their bloc.
President Mahama called for continued engagement through understanding, dialogue, and a willingness to listen and engage.
The President further called for an extension of diplomatic commitment to economic, social and cultural dimensions, including normalising trade negotiations, facilitating free movement of people, and championing education and health cooperation.
He pointed out that diplomacy should extend beyond merely resolving conflicts to include the economic, social and cultural aspects.
President Mahama announced that the Ghanaian government, as part of efforts to enhance relations and cooperation within West Africa, would provide 1,000 scholarships to tertiary students from across the sub-region to study in Ghana’s universities.
This initiative, he said, aimed to foster deeper connections among the youth in a bid to shift perceptions from rivals to partners.
“This is not just a gesture. It is an act of solidarity. It is a bridge to a future where many young people will grow up seeing each other not as foreigners but as partners,” he said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said ECOWAS had evolved from a modest economic cooperation framework into a dynamic, multifaceted regional community championing not only economic integration, but also peace, security, democracy and social development.
He commended ECOWAS for making remarkable strides in advancing the aspirations of West Africa.
The 50th anniversary, he said, should offer member states an opportunity to reflect on the challenges they had overcome, the progress made, and the sacrifices of those who envisioned a united, prosperous and peaceful West Africa.
“It is also a time to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the ideals upon which this community was formed as we launch these celebrations today,” he added.
He called for a collective effort to keep the ECOWAS and the African community’s dream alive, emphasising the importance of shared stories and partnerships.
“We invite all member states, institutions, partners and the people of West Africa to participate actively, to share our common stories, to chart a new path stronger, more resilient, more united, and to keep the ECOWAS and African community dream alive,” he added.
Established on May 28, 1975, ECOWAS aims to promote regional integration through policy harmonisation, resource pooling and collective efforts to address the region’s challenges.
The launch of the 50th anniversary is the beginning of a year-long string of activities across the sub-region.
The anniversary is on the theme: “Stronger together for a brighter future”.
As part of the launch, ECOWAS unveiled its 50th anniversary logo and declared the official theme for the Jubilee celebrations.
