Addressing the press on Thursday, April 17, 2025, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, stated that 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.
On January 29 2025, the three countries formally withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after providing the required one year notice.
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.
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.
According to the 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 event will be officially hosted by the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama.
As part of the launch, ECOWAS will unveil its 50th‑anniversary logo and declare the official theme for the Jubilee Celebrations. The launch will also set the tone for a year‑long series of commemorative events across all member states.
After the launch, Ghana will host an Extraordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers on April 22 and 23, where foreign and finance ministers of member states will deliberate on pressing regional issues, including the recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the bloc to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
A comprehensive report will be prepared for consideration by the ECOWAS Heads of State.
“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 emphasised.
Ablakwa praised ECOWAS’s legacy over the past five decades, highlighting its achievements in regional trade, movement of people, infrastructure development, and peacekeeping efforts.
He pointed to successful initiatives such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme, and major projects like the West African Power Pool and the Abidjan‑Lagos Corridor as examples of meaningful progress.
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,” the Minister concluded.
With West Africa looking to Ghana, the nation is poised to lead the ECOWAS@50 celebration with pride, unity, and purpose.