President John Dramani Mahama has extended an invitation to the military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to attend the official launch of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) 50th anniversary celebrations in Accra. The coup leaders – Niger’s General Abdourahmane Tchiani, Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traore, and Mali’s Colonel Assimi Goita – broke away from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) last year.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed this at a press conference on Thursday, April 17, 2025, stating that the invitation aims to build bridges and strengthen the West African sub-region. The launch ceremony will feature key dignitaries, including Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, and representatives from member countries and international partner organizations.
The event will unveil ECOWAS’s 50th-anniversary logo, declare the official theme for the Jubilee Celebrations, and set the tone for a year-long series of commemorative events. Ghana will also host an Extraordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers on April 22 and 23 to discuss pressing regional issues, including the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS.
Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasized the need for enhanced diplomacy and commitment to the vision of a united and prosperous West Africa, highlighting ECOWAS’s achievements in regional trade, infrastructure development, and peacekeeping efforts. The Minister praised ECOWAS’s legacy, citing initiatives like the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the West African Power Pool. The launch is scheduled for April 22, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
