By Kebba AF Touray
President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana has extended a formal invitation to the military-led governments 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 a gesture aimed at bridging widening divisions in the region.
The announcement was made Thursday by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who described the invitation as a step toward reconciliation and regional unity. The launch, scheduled for April 22 at the Accra International Conference Centre, marks the start of a year-long celebration of ECOWAS’s founding on May 28, 1975.
“This is about building bridges,” Mr. Ablakwa said at a press briefing. “ECOWAS must continue to pursue collaboration, not confrontation, especially at this critical juncture in our history.”
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—governed by military juntas—formally withdrew from the regional bloc on January 29, 2025, following months of diplomatic friction. Their alliance, known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), represents a significant break from the regional order that ECOWAS has sought to uphold.
The upcoming launch will be hosted by President Mahama and attended by key dignitaries, including ECOWAS Chairman and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, heads of state and government from member countries, and representatives of international partner organizations. The event will feature the unveiling of a commemorative logo and the official theme of the Jubilee Celebrations.
Beyond the ceremonial aspects, Ghana will also convene an Extraordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers on April 22 and 23. Foreign and finance ministers will deliberate on urgent regional matters—including the AES withdrawal—and produce a report for consideration by ECOWAS heads of state.
“While the withdrawal of the AES nations presents a challenge to our cohesion, ECOWAS must respond with enhanced diplomacy and an unwavering commitment to the vision of a united and prosperous West Africa,” Mr. Ablakwa said.
He praised the bloc’s five-decade legacy, citing achievements in economic integration, infrastructure, and peacekeeping. Signature initiatives such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, the Brown Card Insurance program, the West African Power Pool, and the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor were highlighted as evidence of progress.
“But more than infrastructure, it’s about people,” the minister said. “It’s about the entrepreneur in Accra and Abidjan, the student in Lagos and Dakar, the peacekeeper in Banjul and Bissau.”
A national Planning Committee, chaired by the Foreign Ministry, is coordinating preparations in partnership with the ECOWAS Commission. While the bloc will cover most of the event’s cost, Ghana is providing full logistical and security support.
“This Jubilee is not just a commemoration — it is a call to action,” Mr. Ablakwa said. “We must use this occasion to rekindle hope in the ECOWAS vision and chart a bold course for the next 50 years.”
