President John Dramani Mahama has formally invited the military rulers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to attend the launch of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) 50th anniversary celebration in Accra—an overture that signals a potential thaw in relations amid rising regional fragmentation.
The announcement, made Thursday by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, comes as the three Sahel nations—now aligned under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—continue to distance themselves from the bloc they recently exited.
“This is a gesture of engagement, not endorsement,” said Mr. Ablakwa. “We are choosing diplomacy, choosing dialogue.”
The official launch of ECOWAS@50 will take place April 22 at the Accra International Conference Centre. The event, expected to draw heads of state, top ECOWAS officials, and international partners, marks half a century since the bloc’s founding on May 28, 1975.
Among the dignitaries scheduled to attend are Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, current Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government; the President of the ECOWAS Commission; and representatives from across the sub-region and international organizations. President Mahama will host the event.
The Accra launch will include the unveiling of a commemorative logo and the announcement of a jubilee theme, kicking off a year-long calendar of celebrations throughout ECOWAS member states.
The selection of Ghana as host has been widely viewed as recognition of the country’s longstanding leadership in regional integration and Pan-African diplomacy.
But beneath the celebratory surface lies a complex political landscape. Following the launch, Ghana will convene an Extraordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers on April 22–23, with foreign and finance ministers expected to address pressing issues—including the AES split, security challenges, and the bloc’s future cohesion.
A comprehensive report will be prepared for consideration by the ECOWAS Heads of State, who are grappling with how to respond to the departure of the AES trio, which claim ECOWAS no longer represents their strategic interests.
“While their withdrawal presents a challenge to our cohesion, it also compels us to recommit to the founding ideals of ECOWAS,” said Mr. Ablakwa.
Despite recent setbacks, the minister highlighted the bloc’s achievements over the past five decades, citing progress in regional trade, infrastructure development, and peacekeeping. Signature initiatives include the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the Brown Card Insurance system, the West African Power Pool, and the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor project.
“Ultimately, ECOWAS is about people,” Mr. Ablakwa said. “From the entrepreneur in Abidjan to the peacekeeper in Banjul, regional integration is not an abstract ideal—it’s a daily reality.”
To manage the logistics of the anniversary events, Ghana has established a planning committee led by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, in coordination with the ECOWAS Commission. While the bloc will shoulder most of the financial costs, Ghana will provide security and organizational support.
“This Jubilee is more than a commemoration,” said Mr. Ablakwa. “It’s a chance to renew our collective vision—and chart a bolder course for the next 50 years.”
With Accra now at the diplomatic crossroads of West Africa, all eyes will be on whether the region can turn a symbolic celebration into a substantive turning point.
Source:TheDotNews